Thursday, November 30, 2006

When Should Men Fight?



"Remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14

Men, hear me well. There is a time to fight, and the time is now!
Our homes are under attack...our wives are under attack...our children are under attack...and our brothers are under attack. Or might I just say that the kingdom of the Living God is under attack.

Spurgeon said, "there has gone abroad the notion that in order to become a Christian a man must sink his masculinity." Is this true? If it is, we're in deep trouble. This would mean that my petite 5'1" wife, mother of 8, would have to battle for the kingdom in the realm of the demonic. Should it be this way? Some feminists and cowardly Men would say yes, Women should do battle on the front lines of the kingdom, after all we have Women doing battle in the trenches of Iraq and Afghanistan, right?

If you're ok with our wives and daughters doing battle in the trenches of Iraq and Afghanistan, getting their heads blown off and being raped by savage domonic warriors battling for Allah, I need you to do something for me. Go outside and find two round stones, then glue them between your legs because you were neutered shortly after conversion by the spirit of Jezebel that lives inside too many of our Lord's churches today.

Since when did fighting become a Woman's job? Nehemiah was speaking the word of God when he commanded Men to fight, not Women. Surely our wives and daughters can do much damage to the enemy through prayer and fasting, and living under the biblical authorities that the Lord has put in their lives, such as Fathers and Husbands, but when the trumpet blows and blood must be shed, Men must heed the call, draw the sword, and lay down their lives if need be for their King and for their castles.

A primary function of a Husband is to protect his wife. A primary function of a Father is to protect his children, especially daughters. And a primary function of Christian Men everywhere, whether married or single, is to protect the kingdom! "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." -Matthew 11:12

As the mighty General Maximus Decimus Meridius prepared his Men for battle, he reminded them of their position in the world as Men with the unforgettable words, "What we do in life echoes in eternity." Will you like what you hear on the other side, or would you hoped to have done more for the kingdom? It's never to late to begin changing the soundtrack of eternity. God Bless!

For more on the topic of Women in the military, read Doug Wilson's article entitled 'Gender Warriors'.


Sunday, November 26, 2006

Turkey and Tequila?

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I found myself thinking through what this day means to most of our nation. As I grabbed a cup of coffee this morning from "Pancho", he drives the roach coach that parks outside of the SSA building along my route, I wondered what his Thanksgiving day would be like. If he's like most Americans, it will be filled with lots of food...lots of football...and of course lots of booze. (If your Mexican like me, this usually means Tequila.) After all, isn't that what most holidays are like for those whose lives have yet to be redeemed?

This Thankgiving has special meaning to me because I just took part in a dramatized presentation of the very 1st Thanksgiving that took place in Plimoth between the Pilgrims and Indians many moons ago. I played the part of Squanto, an English speaking Indian who helped the Pilgrims survive after coming to America by teaching them how to hunt and plant crops. It was lots of fun.

As I drove away from "Pancho" with hot coffee in hand, I was thinking about all the people I'm thankful to the Lord Jesus for, for allowing to be a part of my life. Some I've never even met, but will one day. Others I see daily in my own home. The Lord has used them to shape who I am today in different ways.

I thank Jesus for the following ladies who've helped me overcome myself and have reflected Christlikeness to me in ways that only the most Godly women can: My wife June, who knows my faults and loves me anyway just like Jesus, my Mom Sara, my sister Marisela, and my friend Rhonda. The Lord has also shown Himself to me through some Godly women in our ministry at church as well. I will refrain from naming them, but they have blessed June and I by assisting us and helping us draw closer to the Lord through Godly examples!

I also thank the Lord for the following Men who have molded me and shaped me in ways that they may never know...first and foremost the Lord Jesus himself...for giving me a new life in Him that has meaning and beauty that will last for all eternity. Thanks also for: My Dad Reynaldo, brothers Israel and Rey, and my brother-in-law Bob Dyckman. Pastors Mark...Mike...and Asa..., Herb Devine, Pastor Bruce Ray, Pastor Dave Garratt, Pastor Steve Dewitt, Mark Driscoll, Leif Moi, Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, Douglas Wilson, Pastor Virgil Wesco and family, Doug Philips and Vision Forum Ministries, and the list could go on and on for those who the Lord has used to impact my life.

I'm also thankful for the families who allow me to fellowship with them and lead them in our ministry at New Life Community Church. If you attend Home Builders...I thank God for you!

So as Thanksgiving day approaches, won't you take a moment to thank God for who He's brought into your life to enrich it in ways you'd never be able to alone. Be thankful this holiday...and as you sit there with turkey in your stomach, pie on your plate, and family and friends all around... remember the Lord who purchased you with his blood so that you may live a life of meaning, which is the only kind worth living!

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Are you masculine?

This being my first post of my new blog...I thought I'd ask you men a question, so here it is.

Are you masculine?

Before you jump the gun and answer yes, let me tell you that just having the necessary plumbing down below doesn't make you masculine, it simply means your male, you know, like Little Richard or Richard Simmons, or Prince for that matter.

Being masculine doesn't mean that your just tough either. Mike Tyson was tough, but not masculine. In a worldly way, yes, in a biblical way, no.

Being masculine is different than just being male, or just being tough. It's being like Jesus. Not the Blue eyed, long blond haired, European Jesus that so many of us think of when we hear the name Jesus either. That Jesus was sort of on the weak side if you ask me. Kind of soft, tender, and feminine, incapable of defending himself against those who sought to kill him. Nope, not the Jesus of the bible.

The Jesus of the bible who I worship every day with my life was the ultimate definition of masculine. He willingly laid down his life for his bride because she needed a savior. His life wasn't taken from him, he gave it up at the Fathers request.

Douglas Wilson defines masculinity as, 'authority, which takes responsibility, sacrificially.'

When you take responsibility for those your responsible for, your being like Jesus. He was responsible for His bride, and did what had to be done. He committed no sins...yet died for the sins of his bride. None were his fault, but he took full responsibility for them. If he hadn't, none of us could be saved. Since he did, all who call upon his name will be saved.

In Ephesians 5, Husbands are told to "love their wives as Christ loved the church". So Husbands, do you do that? No sissy stuff either. Her sin, my sin doesn't cut it with the Lord. Her sin is your sin you see. You are the covenant head of your home. Therefore, as the head of your home, like Jesus to the church, your responsible for the condition of it. You are not your wife's savior, but you are her head (1 Corinthians 11:3). As the head of the home, are you taking responsibility for it? Doing so doesn't make you weak, it makes you strong.

So I'll ask you again...are you masculine?

Before you answer look at the cross. Look at the Lords blood pour down his face. Look at the nails piercing his hands and feet. Look at the love in his eyes as he sees you in the crowd, knowing that unless he did that for you, you could never do that for her.

Men, love your wives and carry your cross for her, because Jesus carried his for you!

For a good sermon on biblical masculinity, visit: www.marshillchurch.org, and download a sermon entitled "Men and Masculinity" in the media files under 'practical topics' 'men'.