Tag: star trek

Why I’m Different

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Why I’m Different

Growing up, I came up in a home filled with problems. A single mother with her own demons to battle. A personality that left me defenseless in a jungle full of predators in my middle school years. I was not just teased, name called, I was tortured. I was attacked, my things were stolen multiple times, thrown into occupied urinals, my clothes taken while changing and thrown out into the gym, leaving me naked in the locker room. I was jumped on my way home, pushed and shoved in the halls, hit on the bus, and the list goes on. I grew up in a school that taught me lies as truth, led me down the halls of liberalism, stuff like climate change that acid rain was going to kill us all by destroying crops, and burning us all. Rising waters would sink Florida by 2010. The Bible was wrong and the Big Bang was proven, evolution was fact, proven and accepted by all, except it wasn’t. I believed them when teachers told me that the right wanted children to starve, the right wanted to destroy the environment, and prevent families from getting welfare they desperately needed. The truth was not as simple as I was led to believe. The fact was, during those years the same kind of teaching was definitely a one-sided teaching method, intended to indoctrinate young impressionable kids, who trusted their teachers to tell them the truth. With no one at home willing or able to talk to me about political matters, science, or anything else, I fell for the lies. 

In recent days I have found the show American Gladiators was resurrected. I grew up watching the show and wanted to face down the Gladiators on the field of battle. I wanted to participate in the event “Assault” so badly. It only intensified my desire to join the military. I wanted to be a G.I. Joe. I wanted to serve like my grandpa, my uncles, and so many of my family served from WWII, to Korea, to Vietnam, to Panama, Desert Storm, and I would serve in OIF. I wanted to serve my great country. The pledge of allegiance meant something to me. The military and those who served meant something to me. Growing up even my life as a Roman Catholic was marred by questions and very few answers. I questioned the Hail Mary’s. I questioned the confessions. I questioned so many things never having answers. No matter the questions I had though, my faith in God was strong, and it would lay the foundation of who I’d become. I believed in scripture. I believed in good and evil. I believed in doing what was right. By all measure I was a boy scout, I just wasn’t an actual boy scout. (We couldn’t afford it.). Today the country is as polarized as ever it has been. The country is at odds over even the most basic of questions, ‘what is a woman?’, ‘should men play in women’s sports?’, ‘should we murder babies in the womb?’. More worldwide questions like, should we finally remove the Iranian occupying government once and for all? Many people have different thoughts on all of these questions. Today people get mad over MMA on the white house lawn, with a Blue Angel, and Thunderbird flyover, but praised pride and trans people parading around the lawn topless shaking their breasts for the camera and in front of children. We are not the same. 

Today, I find people are more cruel then perhaps they were while I was in school. I recently posted to Instagram about the weight loss journey I started. I couldn’t believe what happened next. I never expected to have a video be so popular. The first video I posted currently has 177,286 views. I received many cruel comments, some put into question my cosplaying a soldier. I posted a second video of me while serving in the Army, deployed to Iraq, and out of the wire on patrols. That video received 571,911 views. More and more negative comments poured in. The cruelty was so hurtful, my mental health took a massive hit. People began to body shame me, even say I was committing stolen valor. I was shocked at so much hate towards a veteran. Shocked people were calling me a fake. Body shaming me. I was called a child rapist, and a murderer. I was called a pawn of Israel. I had one person tell me it was a shame I survived. And another said it was a shame I didn’t lose all my limbs, because that’s what I deserved.  A true look into the lost in this world. People will bring you down for no reason. My post was nothing but the start of my journey. I will continue to fight for weight loss. I will continue to fight for my heart recovery. I’ll continue to fight for my overall health. I will continue to try and be uplifting to others. I won’t be deterred by a bunch of internet keyboard warriors who don’t know what they are talking about. 

I am a veteran, a combat veteran at that, and I’m a nerd. I am often an outsider, even among the veteran community I am considered to be different. Different doesn’t mean I don’t have value though. I may be different but I have skills that made me a good soldier. I have a mindset that made me an asset during combat operations. My ability to think about and plan for contingencies made me a good team member while preparing for when things when they went wrong. It made me a great security officer later in life, that planned an active shooter policy for a major university, the first of its kind at the school. I have always been a good employee, with a strong work ethic. 

I have come to realize the lies I was told as a child, and when I look back it makes me sad. Star Trek saved my life growing up. Without a man in my life, I could look up too, the character Jean-Luc Picard was interesting to me. Sir Patrick Stewart’s portrayal of that character truly impacted my life in a positive way. A strong, moral, principled, man, leading a crew of hundreds, and showing what the best of humanity could be, gave me someone to look up too. Today, I am a Christian man who’s view on life is as principled as Captain Picard’s. I stand firm on my morals, and I am uncompromising on my beliefs. I grew up believing the goodness of Spider-Man (Peter Parker). I believed in the kindness of Steve Urkle from Family Matters. I showed love like Full House. I believed in family like Fresh-Prince of Bell Air, especially the episode with Will’s Father. I believed in Truth, Justice The American Way of Super-Man. And I believed everyone could be saved like Batman from the Animated Series. I believe everyone should be treated fairly, but the truth should hold all things in balance. We are all sinners in this life, and we all need salvation from a very real Hell we are headed for. Our own sin nature, our prideful nature, that separates us from God by saying we don’t need some cosmic genie looking over our lives. The truth is God is almighty, all knowing, and this whole universe is His. He created everything, and even created every living thing on the planet. When Eve was tempted by Satan, she fell for the lie that she could be like God. She in her pride, thought she knew better than God. We do the same each and every day of our lives. We feel we know better than God. We change His holy word because we think He’s mean. We change His word because we feel He’s wrong on homosexuality. We feel He’s cruel in the Old Testament, and nothing but love and forgiveness in the New. What most people fail to realize is the missions aren’t the same. God is not different in the Old from the New. God is the same, always. Jesus in the New displays that righteous anger we see in the Old as well. He was not always nice to the Pharisees, but He was always kind. We aren’t always nice either, but we are always called to be kind. What does this mean? When you have to discipline, or correct someone, you do so in a loving way. Recently, I had a ‘Christian’ say something to me on Instagram, and it wasn’t very nice. When I went to their page, and saw most of their stuff was Christian in theme, I was shocked. The rude comment came from a fellow Christian. It was at that time I decided I would reply in a kind way. They said “Call of Booty. Calling in a snack drop.” On their page they have Psalm 3:7, Deus Vult. My reply was this, “As a Christian do you feel this was an uplifting and edifying comment? Someone trying to recover from multiple heart surgeries. Someone continuing to push through health issues. After five years my doctors figured out why I have been gaining weight with how active I am. So my weight is not diet related. So I’ll ask again, Christian, is this how you treat fellow Christians? Praying for you. God Bless Sir.” I feel my explanation, while long, was kind, but also to the point. We never know what someone is going through. We never know someone’s background, or history, so one, we should never assume. Two, we never know what someone is going through. Whenever we can, we should be uplifting rather than tearing someone down. In fact, that’s scripture, not me. Scripture tells us to only say which is edifying. This may mean correcting someone, but even in correction we are trying to lift them up. We are never called to tear someone down. Yet, we often fall very short of this. Especially outside of the Christian community. I also had someone tell me I was a weak Christian. I found that laughable, considering I’m actually pretty tough on Christians. I’m very tough on stances of sin. I do not negotiate the Word of God at all. I am very set on the idea that my opinions don’t matter, and the only opinion that matters is God’s, and we find that in Scripture. So, to be called weak because I dress up in a Green Arrow suit and share the Gospel to nerds and those who are harder to reach, doesn’t make me weak, it just makes me different. Different people, of all kinds are used by God for different missions. We each have unique abilities, specially suited for special tasks and missions. 

Growing up I loved G.I.Joe, Star Trek, Star Wars, Batman, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Dark Wing Duck, Duck Tails, Rescue Rangers, Batman The Animated Series, Spider man. I think you can see a common theme. I grew up dealing with bullies my whole life, so to be bullied on social media really wasn’t anything new, but it was a new flavor. This one hurt though. Why would people be so mean when I’m trying to do the work for the workouts. I heard it a lot when I was in HS. When I was going for the Marine Corps, I heard you’ll never make. You’re going to fail. My grandpa was one of few that told me to ignore everyone and that he believed in me. Sadly, I would get a denial letter the day before I graduated high school. It would take me a year but I never gave up, a year later I would sign the contract to be a United States Army Cavalry Scout. I would leave for basic and even in basic I had people tell me I’d fail. I never quit, and at the end on our last ruck march, when half the unit quit the march, in last place with the guy marching with a torn achilles tendon, we crossed that finish line together. We had done together what many others failed to do. We kept one another going. We stayed with one another. We encouraged one another. We never quit. That’s who I am. I’ve survived horrific things, and yet I am still here. Who am I? I’m a survivor. I’m different because God made me this way. I’m different because I grew up in a very unique and often awful circumstances. I’m different because I grew up with shows defeating evil. I grew up watching shows that solved crimes, and taught good morals. I would grow in my faith as time went on, and even with my shortcomings, I would find my way back to God. Today I am who I am, but every bit of who I am, simply wants to put a smile on my Abba Fathers face. I seek adoration from my heavenly father. I seek my Father in Heaven’s approval. I simply want to hear “Well done my good and faithful servant.” I hope when I cross that finish line I will have done my best. Yes, I may dress up like Green Arrow, or a Star Wars character, or a Star Trek Character, or an elf, or other warrior, but I am always a Christian. I may wear a combat load vest to work out in. I may do my workouts different from other people, but no matter what I am always a Christian. I may be different but never do my differences dishonor God. I am always kind to people and give them every opportunity. I am nice more often than not. I am always trying to help others. I am by no means perfect. I have plenty of short comings, and none of this post is to make me seem to be some kind of saint, trust me, it isn’t. What I hope to convey here is who I am. I deeply care about my friends, because I often didn’t have many growing up. I deeply love people in my life, because I was often alone. I often have self-doubts. I often question who I am, what I’m doing, if I’m good enough, why anyone would love me. I hear those words ring from my past, and social media, you’re not good enough, you’re ugly, why would anyone love you, why would anyone want to be with you, you will fail, you are worthless, your fat, you’re an abomination, you’re a fake, your nothing. I hear it in my head, and I find myself asking if it’s true. All I have ever wanted to do was make a difference in this world. I want to be there to help others. I want to lift up people who are in the worst stormy seas of their life. I was there once. I almost got swallowed by the darkness, but I was saved by the light. I just want to be there for people who might think there’s no hope. I want to help be the lighthouse in the treacherous seas to guide someone back to safety. There’s a line in Black Hawk Down, where one of the main characters says he “wants to make a difference.” That was something I hoped for as I left for Iraq, and it’s something I’ve kept with me most of my life. No matter what I’m doing, did I make a difference? No matters whose life I touch, did I make a difference? In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The big question is how many lives did George Bailey touch. How many people did his life positively impact. How many people have I impacted? I obviously don’t know, but I hope the lives I have touched it’s been to improve their lives. I want to encourage people. Be there for them. Uplift them. More importantly live a Godly life before them. I’m not perfect, but I just want to help others. May I have helped someone here, reading this. Maybe I’ve helped in some way I don’t know. Maybe if I have, leave a comment, letting me know. If I can pray for you look up my email in the contact page and reach out to me. If I can pray for you, or maybe answer questions about scripture, I’d love to try. Do your best to be a righteous person before a Holy God. Do your best to be kind, and loving. Do your best to do your best. 

Go In Peace, Go In Love, Be Kind, and Live Long And Prosper

I Was A Sheep Dog Once

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

I Was A Sheep Dog Once

I was 18 when I got the letter from the Department of Defense, denied. I had an emergency, second umbilical hernia surgery. I was completely devastated. By the grace of God one year later I was walking through a grocery store when I ran across a recruiter. I told him my story, and he told me to try again in so many months. Let the surgery heal, and once it did for a year, then, try again. I didn’t have a backup plan. My backup plan to go to college fell apart for various reasons. It wasn’t that I wasn’t smart enough for college, it was the situation I was in. Later in my life I would go, and I would graduate with a 6.65 GPA. Not too shabby. I would first go to the Air Force recruiter, but I didn’t love the idea of desk job, and didn’t really love the idea of being security forces (Military Police). When I got back from MEPS, I got back with no recruiter waiting for me to discuss further options. I was angry. I immediately went into the Army Recruiters office, and he gave me a pamphlet. By the time I was home a mere 15 minute drive, I circled several options. When I got home. I began using the internet to narrow down my selection till I had one clear choice, Calvary Scout. When I went back to MEPS this time under the Army Flag, there was only one spot for scout training, if I wanted to leave in 4 months, I would have to write an essay, and thankfully I was chosen. I did pretty well in Basic, but I wasn’t top of my class, but I finished with honor anyway. I finished the 25Kilo Ruck March crossing the finish line, after a week in the field, with little food (I was a vegetarian), and no sleep, we embarked on the finial ruck of training. When I crossed the finish line, I knew I would get my cross sabers. 

Not everyone finished the ruck, but the smallest guy in the platoon did. I would train and deploy. I would go to Korea first where I learned how to be a warfighter. What is a warfighter you may ask, “A warfighter is a military service member—soldier, sailor, airman, or marine—directly engaged in or trained for combat and operations, emphasizing a cohesive, agile approach to winning battles” My platoon was directly responsible for several missions at the same time. We would do vehicle patrols, observation posts (OP’s for short), We’d do EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) escorts. We would do raids, we would do what we called snatch and grabs, where we would sneak in, or bust in and arrest high value targets. We’d often have to do a breach to enter into the dwelling quickly. We’d move into sniper/ambush missions. Sometimes our days were filled with several missions, one right after another. We were often away from the base for hours, and often days at a time. We’d not only be away from our beds, but we’d be away from help, and we’d do our missions with only 4-5 soldiers. We had a heavy work load, and we often found ourselves going from one mission to another. I was trained as a weapon. The idea of a soldier being a weapon is not new. Everything I learned in Iraq, and in the Army taught me how to survive. Since then, the time I worked in security, the time I worked in a detention facility, all taught me valuable lessons about what it means to be a protector. 

During my time in college, I studied the human mind, the mindset of a criminal, and in many cases the mindset of a terrorist. I studied homeland security, emergency management, terrorism, and a whole lot of psychology. Today I still use what I have learned on a much smaller scale. I protect my home, and anyone that may be in my orbit while I’m out of the house. For a long time, I made do with what I had. Now my situation has changed a bit, but I am still protecting my home and those around me. No matter the situation it’s important to focus mostly on the intent. Some people have more of a protector mentality then others. When I was a kid, I did my best to stand up to bullies, even though I was tremendously bullied. Later in life I swore I’d stand up for the little guy. I swore I’d stand up to fight bullies any chance I’d get. 

One day at church I was approached by a member of the safety team at my church, to see if I’d be interested in serving on that ministry. I was given my assignment, and when we’d next meet, and so it began, I was a new member of the safety team at church. Some who still live under a rock think a security team is not necessary. I could not disagree more. Some who disagree say it’s not the Christian way. In scripture it talks about the Temple Guards. Keepers of the peace and protection, inside the temple. Scripture tells us to the best of our ability live in peace with all man. It never says to roll over and let people hurt you. IF the government deems your death to be necessary, because you serve a mighty God, to trust in the Lord, even if it means dying for your faith. Old Testament Law says Exodus 22:2-3 2 “If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. 3 But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” While the rules at the time change for daylight, we have a different set of laws which are still acceptable. We call it the ‘Castle Doctrine’. The home is your castle, and you are given legal right to assume someone breaking in beyond the threshold of the door or window is there to do you harm. Scripture tells us to follow the law of the land. We have a responsibility to defend our homes from attackers. In the middle east, homes still to this day, specifically Iraq, every household has the right to defend itself, so they all have a rifle with two magazines. 

We all have responsibilities and while our first priority is to Christ, and living in peace, we must understand that sometimes that peace is taken from us by others. We don’t always have a say when we need to act in the interest in protecting ourselves or our loved ones. I find myself longing for the days when I felt like I was making a difference in this life. I have always felt the need, the desire to protect others around me. I was shocked when I watched the movie American Sniper to hear such an amazing quote that summed up how I had felt my whole life. By the time American Sniper came out I had already been discharged from the Army. I did not know it, but Kyle had served in Ramadi the same time, I was there. 

It is said his father said this quote: 

“There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn’t exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn’t know how to protect themselves. Those are the sheep.

Wayne Kyle: Then you’ve got predators who use violence to prey on the weak. They’re the wolves.

Wayne Kyle: And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock. These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf. They are the sheepdog.” 

I was meek growing up. I often took the beatings that came my way from bullies. I guess, in some ways I displayed similar characteristics as Tommy from Kenny Rogers song Coward of The County. When push came to shove, Tommy did what he needed too, and in one day proved the county wrong. While in Iraq, I too did what needed to be done. Today, I find myself facing the truth of who I am. I cannot stay or remain silent of the evil I see in today’s world. I see the murder of children. I see the mutilation of children. I see the eroding of God given rights to people. I see the rise of corruption and the mass migration away from the Word of God. Evil rises all around us, and all we can do now, is prepare for the worst, and pray it never happens. Scripture shows us how important it is to plan for the future. In Joshua’s story, famine came to all the land, and he knew he needed to prepare for it, or everyone would parish. In my own life, on a much smaller scale, I see the need to prepare. Maybe it’s the emergency management mindset I have, or the experience in the Army planning for every contingency possible, but I always did my best to prepare. In recent months I have found how important it is that if I am going to be the sheep dog of old, I need to prepare my body for the fight. I cannot overstate how hard that is for me. My mind is willing but my body It seems didn’t get the memo. I struggle these days with things I shouldn’t. My body has failed in so many ways. It’s hard for me to keep pushing forward, when my body fails every week, it seems. When I wake up, I have to force myself to get out of bed even though I hurt. I have to push myself to go to Cardiac Rehab even though I didn’t sleep the night before. I have to convince myself to do my workouts, push my body, even though I hurt and ache every day. I know that this life is a fleeting one, one full of pain, and suffering, but much like Paul, sometimes the thorn in our sides is not removed by God. I have grown to put my faith in God, but I will admit sometimes it’s hard. My mind is willing, but my flesh is weak. My pain is fluid, it changes regularly, but it reminds me of my hardships, and just how sweet Heaven will be. What is this pain we suffer for a little compared to an eternity in the presence of God in Heaven. 

Even with my problems, I do my best to remain as positive as possible. My focus is always on the protection of those around me. With the current uptick in terrorist related attacks, and the threats against conservative Christian men, I find myself on constant high alert. The danger is real, and so is my response. I know what I need to do to stay safe, and because of that I have to wrestle with two truths. Truth one, is I am a Christian Soldier for Christ, fighting in an invisible war for people’s souls. Truth two, I am fighting as the spiritual leader of my household, which also makes me the soul protector in the non-invisible world as well. I must be both at the same time. I must be willing to do what is necessary to protect myself, my family, and those who are weak from harm. We see SheepDogs in a few different places. One, and mostly the military. Special Operators are often referred to as sheepdogs. Police, Firefighters, and some citizens would fall into the category of a sheepdog also. 

John 10:11-12 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”

Jesus calls himself the good shepherd who lays down his life to protect us. It takes great amounts of courage to stand up to wolves. When I was child and I was bullied, I didn’t have anyone stand up for me. But if we are to be Christ like in our lives, that means we too must be willing to lay down our lives doing what’s right. 

Matthew 10:16  “16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”

It’s important to be vigilant while out in public. People have always been dangerous, but this goes as an ebb and flow in time. Look at how dangerous it was back in the days of Jesus. Today, we see ourselves having to deal with more criminals as judges are soft on crime. Those of us who can protect, need to protect. Jesus is telling his disciples they are going into harms way. He tells them how to respond in the current situation they would find themselves. 

As important as it is to be a physical sheepdog, we must also be spiritual sheepdogs. 

Acts 20:28-29 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 

We have a responsibility to the truth, protecting the truth, and also protecting the sheep within the flock. One individual from scripture I have often gravitated towards is the story of Gideon. A man who was humble, perhaps even too humble, said he was the weakest of all his brothers. Even though he called himself the meekest of all his kin, he was chosen by God to lead an army. Gideon before war had 32000 men. Prior to the battle, he gave his men one last chance to leave. Any man who knelt down to drink would be sent home. He was left with 10000 men, then before the battle had only 300 men. There were few sheepdogs willing to stand up and fight. Even though he had a few 300 men they won the battle. I grew up a weak sheep, and when I graduated basic training, I vowed never to let someone bully me or harm the people I care about. A true sheepdog doesn’t seek out danger. We aren’t vigilantes. True sheepdogs want peace, we want peace so bad because we have seen the terrors of war. Because we have seen war, we value peace more than those who have only lived in peace. Sheepdogs want to keep and preserve the peace. 

In recent years church security has become more main stream. At my old church I was a part of the safety team. The mission is protecting the flock. If there was ever an incident, handle it without the rest of the congregation being aware of it, letting service continue uninterrupted. We saw recently when a Jewish Synagogue was attacked by an armed gunman, and was met by Synagogue armed security. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke). This quote suggests that apathy, silence, and inaction, permit evil to flourish. This is exactly what happened during WWII. The world stood by as the Nazi’s took over Germany, and when the countries surrounded by Germany began to fall one by one, the U.S. did very little, till the attack came to our doorstep. We allowed Germany to gain ground, and we in our apathy, allowed evil to flourish. Guns, knives, bow’s, etc. are all tools. We as a society (a worldly one) have begun having ridiculously crazy conversations about objects. In England, a famous English actor said we don’t need knives with points because kitchen knives are used in more attacks than any other bladed objects. Yet another ban on items rather than dealing with the true nature of the problem, people. In Australia, the land of dangerous things, they’ve banned machetes. Personally, with swords now being banned around the world, tools of the farm, or just survival, the change of what a man is, is imminent. I once saw a quote, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times” (Apparently quoted G. Michael Hopf) It takes a lot effort to create a society that prospers. Our very nation is the pinnacle of that idea. It took a lot of struggles, and hard work to build this country from nothing. From that nothing, a country began being built. In 1776 strong men got together to free a nation from the control of a king. To be free, and have the freedom that God has given to all men. Over the last 250 years this nation has endured good times and hard times. The situation now however, across the world is one of a steady decline. Since WWII while there’s been conflict somewhere around the world at all times, we’ve not had a great war. After Vietnam came Iraq and after 20 years of fighting this country has never seen war here at home. People here have forgotten history. Politicians here have begun to try and disarm the American people, a failsafe to ensure we have our freedoms protected. No armed forces have stepped foot in America, and one main reason is our freedom to bear arms. While this does not make someone strong, nor does it make someone a sheepdog, it is understood that our protections have followed the quote to its most logical conclusion. Our good times have indeed created hard times. The push, the desire to feminize men; the attack on masculinity has neutered, and softened their hands of men. Men once bore the sword for righteousness. Today we often do not think about government, police, or military carrying out the will of God against evil, but surely I say to you, there is Biblical precedent to this. (Speaking to those who do iniquities) 

Romans 13:4b But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword of nothing; for it is a minister of God, and avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.” 

This is referring to governments need to protect the innocent, to destroy evil where it stands. We as a society must remember 

“What must not be lost sight of is that, unpleasant as is the task of the jailor and the use of the whip, the cell, the noose, the guillotine, these things stand behind the stability of a civilized society, and they stand there necessarily, for God has declared it so, in harmony with reality, rather than with apostate sociological opinion.” (Robert Culver) 

Men willing to stand up and fight must remember there is no greater honor than to lay down one’s life for a friend. We as men must stand in courage to do what it necessary, to continue to fight the good fight, and never lose sight of doing good in the sight of God. We must continue our journey to fight the good fight as good Christian soldiers. We must continue to stand up to evil, and those who would do evil. Perhaps an unpopular take, but we must remember to do what’s right even if that takes us to far distant lands. In the words of Uncle Ben “With great power, comes great responsibility.” I am not saying we should go to war at the drop of a dime, nor should we. I’m also not saying that we should get involved in every conflict anywhere. But sometimes one must pick up the sword to destroy an evil bent on bringing that evil to the rest of the world. Iran is one such evil. Some may not like how our current president got to where we are, some may have disagreements with some of the details, and that’s fine. but the removal of dictators who’ve murdered their own people, murdered others around the world, sponsor terrorism, and those who support terrorism here at home, should be dealt with by means that are reasonable. Are we willing to stand up to do what is right, or as Dumbledore once said, “Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) 

For a long time, I felt like I lost something. After I got out of the military I struggled with purpose. I wasn’t following Christ as I should since I wasn’t actively serving my Lord. Sure, I believed, but that couldn’t have been seen in my actions. I went on sinning, thinking I was covered, and my fire insurance was set. I made poor decisions, even though I was doing the best to be a good friend, good husband, and in my own eyes, a good Christian. The problem was, I wasn’t doing anything to lead my home spiritually. I wasn’t setting the Christ like example before my family. I lost my way. Once upon a time I believed that the sheepdog in me was dead. I believed that I couldn’t protect my family because of past mistakes. I believed that because of my physical limitations from heart surgery and other issues I was worthless. I felt worthless, and my body screamed it. In recent months I have moved into a new phase within my life, and because of the grace, mercy, and faithfulness of God, much of what I lost in 2016 has been restored. If you remain faithful to the Lord even in the most difficult times you will receive restoration. Does this mean you’ll get everything back, the house, shiny new car, etc.? No, but one way or another you will receive restoration, either in life, or eternal life. In the last few months, I have been restored in some very specific ways, and that thing has allowed me to feel safe, comfortable, prepared, and strong. I finally feel as if a big part of who I was has been restored, and I am so thankful to God to allow me to experience His grace through restoration. Yes, I was a sheepdog once, but today, I can say, even despite my physical limitations, I am a sheepdog again. I am a Christian soldier, ready to deploy, ready to continue the fight, ready to share the Good News which is what the Gospel means. Christ is King, our commander in chief. We have the Holy Spirit with us, guiding us, showing us the path, and we have the host (a military term meaning troops, or army) of angels on our side. IF God is for us, who can be against us? Satan has lost the war, and despite that he tries to win battles, but we have the truth on our side. We have the safety and security knowing that the sheepdog that looks after us is the Good Shepherd. He not only defends us Himself, but He uses His mighty host of angels to do His will. We are soldiers, we are sheepdogs, and sheepdogs never die, they just get called home. Fight the good fight Brothers and Sisters, fight on. 

I realize some of this may be controversial to some. I will say this. Do what the Lord convicts you. If you don’t like weapons, and feel if someone breaks in to do you or your family harm and that’s the will of God, that is well within your right. Follow your own convictions. As long as they match scripture.

God Bless, 

Live Long And Prosper

For more please follow at: 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thearrowpreacher6920?si=wvVC80iHWsSSkRY1

This Old Elf

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

This Old Elf

Four decades, or forty years. Time slips by in what seems like an instant, but as anyone can see just by looking around them, time is better for some people than others. If I was not a faithful, God-fearing man, I would say time hated me. As one friend put it, ‘if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.’ Time has been hard on me all these years. I have spent much time recently looking back and reviewing my four long decades on this earth. The passage of time is a strange thing, since sometimes it goes slow, and others we seem to miss it in the blink of an eye. But in reality, time moves the same speed today, as it did in the 80’s, 90’s and even the time just after Adam and Eve were banished from Eden. If I was a betting man, I would say, what I’m feeling is fairly common for a newly turned 40-year-old. I’m not sure if most people do this, but in the recent days I’ve been reflecting over my life.

I don’t believe anyone would say I’ve had an easy life. I have been blessed, and am currently blessed, but that does not mean life is without issues. There is certainly something to be said about a family member battling dementia, and the family left to help navigate the stormy waters. Some days are decent, while others are not. When the relationship is already tumultuous, turbulent, it makes that navigation like a first year Lieutenant on a land nav course. 

Are we ever where we thought we ‘d be? Generally, the answer to this question is no. I’d say the vast majority of people’s lives are so far off the track from what they originally attempted to navigate. This doesn’t mean life is all difficult, but I do think reflection can be both helpful and hurtful depending on the circumstances. Reflection is important so we can take a long hard look and perhaps gain some perspective. However, if we stair to long, we may get lost in the despair of rejection, heartache, and disappointment, that may come from looking back. I have a few big moments in my life I have considered what would have happened if I had just made a different choice. Some say our choices define us, and while that’s true, sometimes it feels they often condemn us. The last thing I want in my life is to forever be stuck. I look at my current situation and it’s hard not to feel stuck. It’s no secret that I live in a tent behind my mother’s house. Having needing a place to live after my back injury, my house was packed into boxes and while in need of a place to store it, mothers house was that place. What was meant to be a short stay, has now turned into seven years. In need of some privacy the tent was placed near the house to have power, a larger bed than a twin, a small place to put a desk to work, and some privacy. But it was in no way expected to be a long-term solution. Three years later. Now, when one looks at the current mortgage rates, I cannot pay half or more than half of my income to a house payment. A disabled veteran is hard pressed to own a home on their income alone. Am I a failure? At 40 years old, living in the back yard of their aging parent whose battling dementia, a house badly designed and laid out, making living very difficult, and stressful, and frustrating, I feel as if I have failed. It is my responsibility to take care of and provide for my family, and while yes, there is a roof over our heads, and food on the table, I am able to provide the bare minimum. Am I being too hard on myself? Perhaps.

I pray that in my current state in my life, that this is not a representation of me: 

Proverbs 13:4

4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

    while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Things aren’t always easy, and life hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would. The struggles I’ve faced are not easy, but nowhere near the worst they could be. Even with the recent and long-term struggles, I have to find my situation blessed. While I struggle every day with a slew of chronic issues, I know my situation could be worse. I have acknowledged at my current place; I am in no way of fixing or changing anything. It is for this reason, I know that all I can do is pray about where I am, and know that God is in control. Some have called this kind of acknowledgement the serenity prayer. While yes, I am aware of it, I will say, knowing and understanding, does not make the day-to-day choices any easier. 

As I turned forty, I’m not sure what I expected from the day, but I wish I could say it went well. Sadly, the day started off rough, and periodically went downhill. I found myself battling my own disappointments, strong negative emotions, and by the end of the night being hurt and disappointed by the words of others. A day that should have been happy and a celebration, did not turn out that way. I often wonder if people consider the amount of pressure a man has on his shoulders. I wonder if people truly consider how difficult it is for a man to have the weight and responsibility of his family’s spiritual walk, the financial responsibilities for the family, the maintenance and heavy lifting for the family. After all that, you add the man’s hopes and dreams, and know that he will often put those aside for the health, and welfare of his loved ones, he walks alone, silent in his struggle. 

But God, hears his cries. While he does not speak allowed his hurt, God knows and hears the cries coming from his broken heart. Turning 40 isn’t the end of the road, it’s merely the middle. One could say it’s the beginning, since every start around the sun is a new starting point. Every day waking up is a fresh start, as the sun rises over a blank canvas, we have the ability to let God paint us a new portrait. Today isn’t the end, and while it did not go as I hoped, and at the end of the day I am hurt, and disappointed, God knows and if it be His will, He will work it out. I started off the day whimsical and excited. As I end the day, I do so in silence, alone by candle light. How I wish I could boldly go on a starship and explore strange new worlds, and seek out new life. I find myself longing for life among the stars where the motivation of human society is no longer the accumulation of wealth but rather the betterment of all mankind. Where hunger, and homelessness is no longer a thing, and people have their needs and wants met, while exploring and growing humanity. Even being lost in the Delta Quadrant on Voyager doesn’t seem so bad. Perhaps one day. For now, look to one another and show kindness, respect, and above all, show love. We are to love our neighbor as God has loved us. Are we loving, and caring, sharing the truth of the Gospel? Hardships come and all we can do is trust in God, let go, and in all we do, all we say, do so to the Glory of the one who created it all, do so to bring a smile upon God’s face. Let’s release our selfishness and ask how we can serve others, and find joy in bringing happiness and love to a world around us that desperately needs it. 

Live Long and Prosper my friends. Go in Love. 

Plot A New Course and Engage

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Plot A New Course and Engage 

The captain orders the helmsman to plot a new course and to set sail. A few turns at the wheel, and the ship begins to turn, a new azimuth is set and along that line the ship travels. The ease in which we change course in our cars, or on bicycles is amazing, but on foot, we need to be vigilant. We must stop and check our course often because we by nature will easily get off course. The hardships we face in life, or even when everything is going as smooth as glass, we can get ourselves off course. Once in a while we need to stop, make camp, rest, and pull out our map. 

In land navigation we learn to check our heading or azimuth every 100 meters. We do this by having a pace count, a map reader, and someone checking the compass. Every 100 meters an azimuth is shot, and a new landmark is set. Sadly, life isn’t that easy. We can’t always plan by one event, or one mile marker at a time. Sometimes, as were navigating we come across a mountain, a cliff, or a body of water. Sometimes these things come out of nowhere and weren’t apart of the plan. We must learn how to respond when these obstacles arise. What are these obstacles? They can be a sudden illness, a sudden change in relationship status, a child, a change at your job, an in law moving in, etc. you name it, almost anything can be a hurdle to overcome. 

It’s important for us to be listening to the Holy Spirit and know when it’s time to change course. I heard something a while ago, “just because it’s always been done that way, doesn’t mean we have to keep doing it.” Sometimes in order to grow, change needs to take place. Sometimes we will reach a point in our lives, and we have to decide which way to go. No matter what the situation we always make choices. Sometimes it’s hard to walk away from something you enjoy. Every now and then we have to walk away in order to grow or to reach our potential. Let me explain. Let’s think of the story of Hercules. The story goes he was a troubled youth. A demigod with extraordinary abilities. What if he had chosen to stay home, take a wife, and have a family? Would that be wrong of him? No, of course not. But, if he does stay home, he never reaches his true potential, never fights the monsters, saving so many lives. While this is a larger than life character, we can look at the Disney movie for inspiration. Do we go the distance? Do we tell ourselves we will do what it takes to reach that greatness? Our path should never be about our own greatness, instead knowing that any greatness we have comes from the Lord. Any achievements we have are because the Lord has blessed us. If we are to achieve the sky as the limit, we do it to glorify God. We however, cannot reach our heights if we choose to stay in the shallow ends. How can we truly bring glory to God if we always play it safe? We must be willing to step out into deeper waters. We must be willing to reach for the golden ring. We must be willing to dig deep and make the hard choices. Nothing about following Christ is easy, but as Paul told Timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

Are we listening to the little voice inside us? Are we hearing what the Holy Spirit is telling us? There is danger all around us when we travel outside our door. There is even danger now inside our homes. We see the danger on TV, in movies, in the music we listen too, and even the books we read. We must learn to decide what we feed our minds, and our hearts. We must not allow those dangers to hit our ship. We must not allow those eddies and currents to push and pull us off course. The Devil wants to keep you distracted so you don’t see the huge waterfall in front of you. Without the Holy Spirit to keep our compass on, we can easily veer off course and find ourselves falling out of control towards the sharp rocks at the bottom.

We will always be faced with choices, ‘do I stay here or take that job across the country?’ Do I leave this job when I don’t have another?’ Do I stay in this relationship and hope he changes?’ Do I keep this child or seek abortion?’ ‘Do I drop out of school to work and help my family?’ Not everyone choice is clean and clear cut. What is however, is scripture. What does the Bible say? What is the Holy Spirit telling you? The Devil will most assuredly tell you what he thinks, but as he tempted Christ, make no mistake, he tempts you also. While sometimes there’s no easy solution, God is telling you which way to go. And I will say this, God will never tell you to do something contrary to his Holy Word. God’s word stands true yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Follow his word, and listen to the spirit guide you. 

What happens when you get off course? 

We all get off course sometimes. It doesn’t matter who you are, saint or sinner, we all get off course. We are not perfect, no not one of us. We all hold the filthy burden of sin. That sin nature as Paul said, “the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.” While of course we don’t want to walk outside of God’s grace, but when we do, we need to know we are always welcome back. We must learn to be open to have others tell us when we are walking astray. So often we don’t want to be told we aren’t right. We don’t want to be told what we are doing is harmful. You can’t tell an addict they are an addict. You can’t tell a gambler they have an addiction. You can’t tell an adulterer they are wrong. While of course we need to tell them, it is not likely they will hear you. We are all those people though. At some point in our lives we take a detour and we get off course. We need to be teachable, and most importantly, be reachable. Don’t fall so far that you have to hit the rocks at the bottom of the waterfall, before you listen. 

We know that grace saves. We know that mercy is granted to us. We can never earn it, we can never deserve it, but we are given all, because of one thing and only one thing, the love of Christ. God so loved the world he gave, he sacrificed his one and only son, to pay the ransom for our sins. He knows we will mess up. He knew on the cross we’d mess up. And yet despite all our short comings, despite our retched paths we take, the words forever ring true, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” We we’re not saved because we are worthy of saving, instead we are saved despite our treachery. That’s Love. If we are loved that much, then we can at the very least, do our part to bring Glory to the Fathers name. We can listen and let the spirit guide us. We can be obedient and follow where He leads us. Paul tried to teach to Jews in the temple and eventually he listened to the spirit, he would instead bring the word to Gentiles. He would try to go into Asia, and after three try’s he realized he was not meant to travel into Asia. We must not only walk the path, but listen for the changes that come. Be willing to adjust the plan, change the plan, and sometimes throw away the plan. God needs no explanation, only soldiers that follow orders. God never needs to explain why or how, for His ways are perfect. He is righteous, and his plans are perfect. If we remain flexible and willing to listen to the Holy Spirit, then no matter what comes, we shall continue on in our joy. Never in my life have I been more miserable than when I try to walk my own path. It wasn’t that I was walking without God in my heart, but I wasn’t being obedient. Essentially I told God, ‘I love you God, but I think my way is better for me, than what you want me to do.’ It sounds silly, but ultimately, much like the Borg ‘resistance is futile.’ The years I spent running from God I had one miserable experience after another. Now, don’t get me wrong, since I stopped doing that, it has in no way been ‘a walk in the park Kazanski,’ but instead, the trials I face have in many ways been more difficult, I feel more equipped to handle them, because I’m on the path God wants me on. Once you make the choice to follow Christ, to really pick up that cross and follow Him, the Devil takes your number. The Devil cannot abide you being accepted into eternal salvation. He will do to you, what he tried to do to Job. He will bombard you with insults, tragedies, temptations, any sinful desire he can throw at you, just to pull you off course. The Devil wants nothing more than for us to drag the name of Christ through the mud. The Devil wants you to mess up, screw up, make Christ look bad, because the world will judge you harshly on what Christian look like. Is that fair? No, but fair is not in the Bible. 

Maintaining a course in the storm is perhaps one of the most difficult things a sailor will ever do. It takes time and effort, courage, and skill to maintain ones heading when the swells are high, the winds are horrific, and the rain never relents. Make no mistake, some storms Jesus will calm, others, you may have to navigate. This isn’t because Jesus doesn’t love you, it’s because the teacher cannot always do your work for you. In order for you to learn, and grow, sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it hurts. When you rely on Christ for your strength you can overcome anything, because you know, you learn that it is not truly your strength that gets you through, but that which the Lord gives you. When it comes time to choose your path, to choose your heading, be mindful of what the spirit is telling you. Be vigilant to hear all the voices talking to you. Satan is very, very good at what he does. He’s very good at making the vinegar seem like honey. You need to use discernment to tell the difference and hear the voice of truth, not the voice of lies. Learning how to do this takes time, and effort, and it takes a whole lot of action. You must be praying to God daily, you must be listening, and reading scripture daily. Hear what the spirit is telling you. Walk with God so when the day comes you are faced with those tough choices, you can hear the voice of truth much more clearly. Keep your armor up, and always be ready for the fight when it comes to you. The Father has not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of courage, so you may stand against the forces of darkness, and emerge victorious. 

I Sense The Conflict Within You

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

I Sense The Conflict Within You

The emotions flow as the Spirit moves within you. The movement of your faith grows by leaps and bounds, a promise to do things the Christ way, but how quickly does that fade? There’s the emotional change that takes place around high intensity services, concerts, etc. There is a pull within each and every one of us. The pull of the light, and the pull of the dark are a battle being waged inside us every day. I have seen the emotional response within people as they get caught in the hype, the excitement and while the ‘Jesus High’ lasts for a while, it slowly fades. I have seen people get enthralled in church and became involved in ministries left and right, and while it seemed the new creation was real and true, the draw of the dark side is strong.

Star Wars is a worldwide phenomenon and there are few households that have not heard of the term Jedi, or the Force. While perhaps the movie itself may not have been watched, there are aspects that just about everyone knows, such as the Jedi Mind Trick, levitation, even lightning. While most people know the Jedi, perhaps more people know Darth Vader. I think as Christians we focus so much on the power of God, we forget that the dark side is strong, and we should never underestimate it. The temptation of Jesus is something I think that’s overlooked because of how easily it seems Christ moved beyond those temptations. When we take a moment to actually consider it, if Satan tempted Jesus, we must understand that you cannot tempt someone unless you have something real to offer. Satan truly has power, and so much so that even Paul calls Satan a god, true a lesser god, but a god nevertheless. While there is God our Father of the Universe, Satan is god over the realm of the earth. This gives him dominion, power, and influence. Sin itself is the dark side and when we consider the fight of good and evil, even though we know who wins, the nature of free will still gives us lowly humans a choice whether to follow the light, or succumb to the darkness. Sadly, I have seen many fall into darkness and have allowed their anger, their hate, their doubts, to fill them up, and as Yoda says, it does lead to suffering. What more can we do though when we see the conflict within someone? In the majority of the last movie of the original Star Wars trilogy we see Luke Skywalker confronting Vader and trying to sway him away from the dark side and back into the light. Instead of being angry that Vader cut off his hand, killed millions, Luke is approaching vader with mercy. Are we moving through our lives with mercy and love, or do we plot revenge on those who wrong us?

How often do we see in movies how well the revenge plot goes for the villain? Law Abiding Citizen doesn’t go so well for our main character played by Gerarld Butler. One of my favorite movies Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan, a man filled with anger and hatred, sets out to seek revenge on once Captain Kirk, and of course for those who’ve seen it, knows revenge doesn’t go well. Unless you are John Wick, revenge doesn’t go so well for most people, because truly it darkens the heart, and leads to violence and hatred. Yoda it seems was right all along, hate does undoubtedly lead to suffering. So what do we know about hate in the Bible? Satan, also known as Lucifer Morning Star was beloved by God, beautiful and the most beautiful of God’s Angels. Ezekiel 28:11-19Satan would be created in perfection, but became corrupted. While it’s not clear if Satan’s jealousy came because of the creation of man, or something else, but regardless, Satan was cast out of heaven for rebelling against the throne. The fallen angels in which followed Satan also were cast out and now roam the Earth creating havoc and dissention and leaving destruction in their wake. Those who choose to allow their darkness to spread, to be in anger, allows the Devil to feed off of that sin, only empowers the god of darkness to spread more hate upon hate. Do not underestimate the real threat, and the power of the darkness. There is hope however, and while the conflict of the flesh, and the spirit rage on inside each of us, light always wins. Paul describes the war in Ephesians 6:10-20, also in Romans 7:14-25 (NKJV)

“14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Paul often talks about the battle between the flesh and the spirit and when we see how adamant he was we cannot take his warning lightly. It says in scripture Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. There is no other reference to anything else we should attack with all hatred and malice except sin nature. Ephesians 4:30-32New King James Version (NKJV) 30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

While there is conflict within you, remember that in this season of Christmas we have hope in the baby that was born to free us from the bondage of that sin, to show us the nature of true love, of real joy, and to forever give us the gift of eternal salvation. We have been given a gift but it’s always up to each and every one of us if we use that gift. In the movie Home Alone 2 Kevin tells the old bird lady what good is having a heart if you never use it? What good was the gift of his skates that he never used and he grew out of them. We cannot be afraid of the gift God has given to us, and it’s up to use to take that gift and use it, to share it with others. There will always be conflict within so long as we live because of the sin nature we have, but love and mercy from Christ washes those transgressions away and gives us something to be joyful about. Go forth and love deeply and let go of the hate and malice that fills this fallen world. Fight with all your might against the attacks upon your heart, and never underestimate the power of your enemy. Make no mistake, the Devil is your enemy, and he means to destroy everything you have. He will promise you the world and all of it’s pleasures, it’s toys and bobbles, but that’s all the god of this world can offer you is temporary pleasures, nothing real, nothing that will ever sustain you. There is but one living water that is forever replenished and that’s Jesus Christ. The baby in which we celebrate this Christmas born to give us a blessing beyond all measure, and the light will always cause the darkness to retreat away. 

Red Alert

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Red Alert

We sit and wait, bracing for impact. All we can do is prepare, plan, and pray. We cannot worry for the storm, but trust in God that we are given the opportunity to show Christ within us as we move forward. There’s a season for everything, and while I can admit with honesty that this last 7-8 days has been a challenge. Since the accident of my car things have been one after another. Recently I spoke to a pastor, and we talked about the frequency of Satan’s attacks, and the level of attacks. It seems as though it’s no longer just one event, but now a slew of targeted attacks. The old axiom now seems the rule rather than the exception, ‘when it rains, it pours’. Sadly this makes things very difficult for people and families all over. In these times of struggles all we can do is react in a Christ like way, pray that God will deliver us, and show us a way through.

Here’s a small roadmap to manage the storm, and the upcoming storm:

Stand on God’s promises. There’s encouragement in scripture for almost every situation you may face. Be sure to build your foundation of faith on solid ground.

Pray always. It’s important to continue your prayers to the one and only that can truly make any changes, our Lord, our Abba Father.

Continue to Praise God for everything you face. It’s in our trials we rise to the occasion and we grow, but also that we grow closest to God. We must trust the Lord, and have the faith of a warrior and that means to praise God for the storms, the rainbows, and the sunshine.

Be the warrior. No one knows what they can do till they are tested. You don’t win the battle with the first swing of the sword. It takes time, it takes one step, then another. With every step and swing maintain your faith and every day bring your A game.

Miracles can happen. We may not always see the things that come together to work out situations, but if we took a deeper look, it’s likely we’d see micro miracles along the way. Trust in God that God can work anything out, and even the worst situations, good can come.

 

When the battles come, be sure to raise the alert, put on the armor, grab your shield, and prepare for spiritual battles. Psalm 18:39 (ESV)“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.” The one who speaks of the warrior mentality, David, Psalm 144:1 ESV“Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;”

 What Gets You Excited?

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

 What Gets You Excited?

Do you have anything that attacks your senses and just gets you 8 years old excited? For me there’s few things in life that get me excited. I am not usually excited by much as I’ve gotten older. As more tragedies have occurred in my life more and more joys have been snuffed out. I no longer look forward to holidays as I used to, and slowly even television shows I once loved would soon just be watched out of habit, not out of excitement. I still get excited when I hear the new theme from the 2009 Star Trek. I find that excitement in my stomach happens at the theme, and it reminds me of a time period in my life when it provided comfort, and hope. In your life, what gives you comfort and hope? What about the hope that Jesus Christ offers you? Does the blood that gives us everlasting life comfort you?

How do we know what true hope is? Do we find our hope in people? Do we place our happiness and sense of belonging or self worth in the hands of sinful people? Human Beings are all sinful no matter how upright, or righteous anyone is. While years may pass before anything happens, so one can go their entire life without making a mistake. Sinful behavior happens within all of us, and thus at some point we will undoubtedly hurt those around us. In my own life I have often placed my self worth in what others thought of me. In the last few weeks I’ve had several big upsets in my social (if you can call what I have social) circle. Most of my relationships are digital ones and sadly most digital relationships, or so-called friendships are barely friendships. While this is not a blanket black and white statement I do believe it’s generally accurate. I believe most people aren’t looking for anything real, that they just want filler in their lives. I believe most people only want positive and uplifting conversation. At the first sign of any conflict people will leave without a word. At the first disagreement over anything they leave. I’ve been ghosted or abandoned enough times that in my life I can honestly say I have seen this first hand. As I have struggled with keeping friends in my life, I have often asked myself why people don’t like me, or don’t want me around. I have watched this in my life over and over and as I’ve struggled to change the outcomes but in each situation I’ve failed to change the end result. The impact on my self-esteem has been drastic. The change in my mood has been so drastic in the last few weeks it’s caused a mild depression to set in. The fact that I have allowed my feelings to be impacted so heavily by people I’ve never met is foolish at best. The desire to make friends has led me to different phone apps, different websites, different Facebook pages, and I have yet to have many positive experiences in the last two years. I’m not saying depression can always be avoided, but for me, if I were to stop placing my value in the hands of others, I would probably be much happier. What does scripture say about having hope?

Romans 15:13“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” During the old testament scripture is filled with God’s disappointment with the way in which Israel conducted itself. Within the messianic prophesies the Jewish people were looking forward to the savior that would come and save them from the hands of their enemies. What they would fail to realize was the hope they would have would not be to save them from their enemies, the Romans, or any other aggressor, it would be to save them from eternal death. In our time we look back to the Cross for our hope, and we know and understand that it was the blood shed on the cross that gave us hope. What’s hard for us in this life is dealing with the hurt, the pain, the suffering brought on by a sinful, fallen world. Heaven is more then our minds can comprehend and we see life as fair or unfair based on our particular point of view. Growing up I often felt that life was unfair. I watched others with more money wear nicer clothes, had bigger Christmas’s, and were more involved in school. I watched as popular kids had parties, and had plenty of friends. I suffered from a semi rare birth defect that left me self conscious and different. I struggled as over the years I would be forced to take time off from school to undergo a surgery. Having to explain my absence to other students became difficult at best. Not having a standard childhood I struggled with simple concepts of emotions. I spent time in church and during that time as scattered as my teaching was, I held hope that God had a plan for me. As more and more trauma’s and struggles happened to me I felt I had done something wrong and I was being punished by God as Israel had once been.

Growing up I sometimes had the gift to see events before they happened. I would see things in dreams, or sometimes just strong feelings before an event. When I was in Iraq I knew there was an IED near an area. I sensed it, and even though my feelings were dismissed I would find out not 15 minutes later I was right. In that attack four soldiers; four friends lost their lives. That was the last time I ever had a premonition of the future. I thought for the longest time I was doomed to suffer this whole life. I struggled for years thinking God was angry with me, and I would eventually give up on feeling better. It would be years before I felt God had finally given me a gift. I cherished the love he had given me, and I made my way back to church and back into God’s word. I learned in time that it isn’t God that brings us pain, it’s people, it’s sin, it’s personal choice, but in all things God gives us hope. Romans 12:12“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” We are along on this ride, this roller coaster and we never know what surprises we might find. We cannot see the future and we must just accept that in this life it’s a blessing to wake up every day. It’s only by grace that we have life, and we must above all else be thankful that while we are ambassadors of this life that means this isn’t home. We have a brighter tomorrow once this life has ended. Isaiah 40:31“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” It’s not easy, but we must find our joy within Christ. We must find our peace within the knowledge that this life isn’t everything. While it may be difficult at times, we must allow ourselves to keep pushing forward. Do not fear tomorrow, do not dread it, for we have a promise from God. Deuteronomy 31:6“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

While I cannot say I have mastered the art of not worrying about tomorrow, I can say the hope and love of Christ is what keeps me waking up in the morning. I can say that even on my darkest of days when I feel like everyone has forsaken me, I know that I still have Jesus Christ. While I do hurt from a lack of companionship, I know that the future can hold anything. God’s blessings are endless and I cannot loose sight of that hope. If we could understand and comprehend God, the entity we know as God wouldn’t truly be God. We cannot comprehend the perfection of Heaven. We cannot understand the complete nature of grace, and we can never understand the true level of Love shared by God. That being said, it’s in that love we must find excitement, find joy, and find the strength to carry on no matter how dark the path may seem.

 

 

Port Holes

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Port Holes: 

Life as we see it can be so narrow, so limiting based on our own feeble perceptions. Not long ago I was on a boat tour of Cape Cod and while I was below deck I found some old fashioned port holes and while I looked out I realized how small and narrow the view was. It got me thinking about our own view of life and how we sometimes view life through portholes of our own doing because we don’t want the full view.

When we are in the middle of the forest sometimes it’s hard to see the grand scale of the world around us. When I was below deck and I was looking through that tiny window I started thinking how bad the view was. I decided to brave the weather and go back up top. When I got there I looked around at the cape and realized how beautiful it was. The catch was however that it was uncomfortable on deck since the wind was heavy and it was quite cold. Is that the way life is sometimes? We choose our narrow view because we feel it’s better then the alternative? I think there are many reasons we would choose to limit ourselves to the world around us. Some reasons for living below deck can be emotional pain, voluntary ignorance, sheltered lifestyle, and maybe even fear.

2 Corinthians 4:18“as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Life isn’t easy but often we bring our own struggles to our front door. We see what we want to see and accept what we want. We want to feel we have a free pass to sin and ignore the consequences. We want to believe what we do and ignore any evidence that may prove us wrong. We want to walk our own path and we alienate anyone that tries to help, to include God.

Life isn’t as easy as taking a few steps to the top deck and all of a sudden everything is crystal clear. Life is far more complicated then that, and so is the puzzle that makes up our perspectives. We can only remind ourselves to remain faithful and trust in the Lord. We will often go through our day-to-day life with the perception that our way is right and others are wrong. We will allow fear to guide our actions, because we don’t want to face that fear so we avoid it. We want to think we are in control of our own path, that we don’t have to answer to anyone else, and we let whatever we want to influence our decisions. We want to believe that we know what’s best for us, and we push away anyone that might have the courage to tell us differently. Proverbs 14:12“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.[a]”

We must resist going through life looking through tiny portholes. We must learn to take the chance and view the world with unobstructed eyes. We must learn to recognize our own path and determine if we are missing out on so much more. There are often people in our life that try to help us, and we must have the wisdom to listen rather then close ourselves off from the world. We must learn to live in the world with eyes wide open yet never conforming to it. We must learn to see the truth instead of hiding from it. We must learn to come to God and trust that God wants us to see the troubles of this world, to see the sick in this world, to see the downtrodden, and the weak, because we are God’s hands and feet. We cannot make a difference if we hide below decks. We cannot expect to preach about the world if we have never seen it. When Jesus spoke he was accepted to have authority. We must get out from our shadows and experience the world, see the world so we may one day have the ability to stand up and preach to the world with authority. We must never conform to it, but if we are to speak we should speak from knowledge. Be sure to speak with truth on subjects you ought to speak of and those you don’t, leave alone. You may not have the protection on deck as you do below, but if you are the captain of your own ship, then as Captain Kirkonce said,“Risk is part of the game if you want to sit in that chair.” Take a chance and step out from the shadows. See the world for the good, the bad, and the ugly. We may get hurt, we may fall, and we may have great stories to tell, but we don’t experience anything looking through that tiny porthole.

 

Thank you so much for your interest in my post today. As a token of my appreciation if you want to travel more for less at up to 50% off retail price please take a look at the following website. Risk free trial for 30 days on shopping, travel, and entertainment. For more information, take a look at this website: Please accept this $200 shopping dollars that you can use to buy items you’ve been wanting for less, or even your next vacation. 

 

img_0128

 

Travelrewardsus.com

http://vacation.p2stravel.com/

https://zoom.us/recording/play/guvtqpnxT02lJVLfgKRjUnZ7Z1vMDZ15eEl-Smju1fpuOw31wg56gyvYHYiO2LvB

Baby Don’t Hurt Me No More

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Baby Don’t Hurt Me No More

Hebrews 11:1-3“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” We walk by faith because our eyes deceive us. We walk by faith because sometimes we have nothing else. When the world is tops turby and we cannot see, we must trust in the Lord to deliver us. Wherever God has us go we must trust our divine purpose. More then trust the where, is the why. It’s hard, and we often cry out in pain, and we beg it to stop, but in the words of Captain James T. Kirk. “I need my pain!” (The Final Frontier) 

Pain comes to all who walk this Earth. Pain is an inevitablility that we don’t like to think about, but it’s an undeniable reality. Since the fall of Eden in Genesis 3: 19b“till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken: for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”And further Genesis 3:24“24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”God said we would suffer for food for what we have we must forever work hard, Genesis 3:6-7.It wasn’t just sin that entered the world with the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, it was also evil. Now it must be understood that evil existed prior to the fall from Eden. This is seen in the conversation between Satan and Eve. Sin is the gateway to evil in many ways. It’s largely in our own pain comes. When selfish desire out weighs love, people get hurt. When we no longer take into account how our actions affect others, people close to us can get hurt.

In my personal life I have often asked Abba to deliver me from my pain. I have gone to Him in prayer, and begged for absolution. I have often wondered how long I would be made to wait. How I could get to where I needed to be, so I could walk on the right path? I’ve come to realize perhaps my path is to wait. Perhaps what I desire most hasn’t come into my life yet because whomever it is may not be ready in their walk. Realizing this, and trying to look at the bigger picture of life as a Chess game, I realize that in order to mount an attack, or even a defense, pieces need to be moved to the right place, and that doesn’t happen all at once. So I now sit, more patient in my self, and more trusting of the greatness that is God’s plan. Waiting is always the worst and hardest part, especially for those personality types that feel they have to be moving, doing things in order to get what they want.

Being hurt in a relationship is hard. When it seems a love has been destroyed by lust and lies and others sins, it’s impossible not to feel pain. I have a secret for you. Pain can be managed and will diminish in time. When we put our faith in God and trust a path, we can begin to heal. Forgiveness is a big part of healing, but also a major roll in relationships. Without forgiveness, scores are kept, and when arguments ensue that thing you forgot to do 6 years ago is now being used as a weapon. When we feel wounded or trapped we as humans like to lash out with insults designed to cut the deepest. If you don’t want to hurt anymore, I’m sorry to say there’s no quick fix. I recently knew someone that was going through a divorce. They thought they were ready to move forward, and I was sure to ask multiple times if they were ready for that, and every time was a yes. Sadly when the time came and they were connecting with someone they met, the cold feet, fear, and doubt crept in. they bowed out abruptly, and sadly leaving hurt feelings behind.

We may not be able to avoid pain from others all the time, not if we want to actively engage in human relationships. We can however be more careful with whom we get close to. When living in sing actively, it’s like playing hot potato with a grenade. It’s going to go off and anyone in the area will be affected. Ownership of the grenade doesn’t matter anymore because it affects everyone around. Much of our anguish is brought on by our own decisions. When I worked security at a local mall I often saw teenage girls crying in the office waiting for local law enforcement. They were caught shop lifting and now they were going to face those consequences. If you don’t want the pain and embarrassment perhaps doing sinful things isn’t for you.

Our paths change with every decision we make. Our choices are the rudder of our ship. When we sin in a big way we are thrown off course in a big way, but it’s because we threw the wheel knocking ourselves off course. If someone else sins it’s like being hit by a wave. Of course the bigger their sinful choice the bigger the wave. No matter the impact we are still captain of our own ships. We choose how we live our lives by the decisions we make. How we deal with the storms when the come, is still on us, and how well we manage our own ship. While a storm may damage your ship, Jesus says to ‘not to be afraid, for the Lord is with you.’ Do not doubt but be courageous in your walk. Trust in the Lord to lead you wherever you are meant to be. You may travel to the ends of the Earth and fight mighty battles, but god is with you. Do not get stuck in the pain. Instead learn to forgive and keep marching on. Do not grow weary in your grief instead turn that into motivation. Embrace the pain because you must face it to deal with it. One day the pain of this world will end and the day Jesus calls you home. Genesis 15:1“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Let God be your shield, your protection, your rock, your foundation.

 

 

For those looking to save on travel and entertainment and shopping, or those looking to save on all those and make money in the process, here’s an easy way to do it.

IMG_0671

Shields Up

thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Shields UP!

Do you have insurance for your home, or your car, or how about life insurance? There are so many promises out there in insurance, but not all policies are created equal. We don’t want to move our money into a place that is just draining our resources, and not actually giving us the protection we need in an emergency. There are so many things we are told to sell us on our insurance policy, but we need to do our homework to actually realize what’s a good deal and what isn’t.

In the case of insurance for your life, and I’m not talking about what you pay for in a policy, I’m talking about the life insurance I like to call fire insurance. Jesus Christ paid the bill for us, and of course I’m talking about our eternal life, not the mortal body. Now, I want to be clear, this isn’t an emergency policy to allow you to do what you want, and right at the last minute you can say, ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me.’ We are judged for all of our actions, and our sins. You have to have Jesus in your heart, and God knows the feelings in your heart. We can’t live our lives how we want to thinking all we need to do is say an I’m sorry and still think we will be accepted into Heaven. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your personal Lord and Savior, and that you will be made to answer for your sins? When you follow Christ and you allow the Holy Spirit into your heart, you will not live life the same way. You will be filled with convictions, and you will have repulsion to sinful behavior. If you have Christ in your heart you will have a physical reaction to sinful behaviors. You will notice a change within your life, and how you choose to live. This will change the types of behaviors you engage in, the friends you have based on their behaviors, and you will undoubtedly loose friends when you find yourself living in Christ.

It’s important to remember that the Devil will try to give you short-term policies. I can do this sin, and all I need to do is ask for forgiveness. The thing with this idea which is very popular in our society now, is that it’s a lie straight from the Devil. The Devil whispers in our ear pulling us into temptation, trying to get us to follow our desires, and to get us hooked. Our insurance policy that was paid for my Christ covers us, but the catch we have to submit ourselves to the Lord. We must learn the difference between scripture and societal worldview.

We must withstand the fire from above, and below as the Devil will try to hit us with volley after volley. Ephesians 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” We must guard our hearts and our minds from attacks that come in all manner of shapes and sizes these days. The battle for our hearts and minds wages on, and we must remember that salvation is not just fire insurance, but like a contract we must uphold our end of the bargain. We must look to our own sins, and remember that sin is not freedom. We cannot burn our own house down and expect insurance to pay for it. Thus we cannot sin freely and expect to be welcomed into heaven. Yes the blood of Christ paid for your sins, but a soul truly saves, that truly understands the blood sacrificed on Calvary’s cross has a repulsion to sin. Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Keep watch for the predator that tried to creep his way inside. Protect yourself and know that you do have the blood assurance that you will be saved on the Day of Judgment, but salvation isn’t free. We must offer up ourselves to serve the Lord. Our hearts and minds are our payment. When we follow Christ, we know our sins will be forgiven. Remember we must go to the Lord in prayer, ask for the forgiveness of our sins, ask for repentance in our hearts, and ask for protection of our minds. Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”