Comfort Inn

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"She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." -- Luke 2:7
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As I write this, snow is softly falling, creating a blanket of pristine white--the quintessential image of a Norman Rockwell Christmas. So much unlike the original; the day the Prince of Peace quietly entered our world. What many of us celebrate now, surrounded by the comfort of family and friends, was then, for the Christ-Child, anything but comfortable. For a young man and his virgin betrothed, it was an untimely birth, in an unfamiliar place. The Bread of Life would spend His first night in an animal feedbox, for there was no room for Him to be born among the comfortable. Those who slept quietly in the inn were likely oblivious to the divine visitation just outside their earshot. The Gift was among them, yet they did not recognize it as such (John 1:10).

A Song Especially for You

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"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." -- Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

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In 1697, the English playwright William Congreve wrote the oft misquoted line, "Music has charms to soothe a savage breast." You read that right. The correct word is "breast." And it's an apt word to describe many men right now. Their chests are beating hard with anxiety over the their jobs, their finances, their future. A savage breast is restless.

Perhaps you are restless too. 

Shaken, not Stirred

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"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." -- Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

Shaken, not stirred. It's how James Bond, the fictional British Secret Service agent 007 likes his martinis. It may make for a good martini--I've never had one--but I'm thinking it's a not a very bold way to live.

The Price Was Right

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"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." — Hebrews 12:2

Easter, the culmination of Holy Week, is a time of celebration. Jesus, bearing our sins on the cross, conquered death and, for all time, became our Source of Salvation. In the words of recording artist, Chris Tomlin, "Jesus has overcome; and the grave is overwhelmed." The grave — that which overwhelms men with fear and marks their final end — has itself been overwhelmed. Death cannot separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:39). Now that's a powerful love; a powerful truth. 

Even If

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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Dan. 3:16-18 

I remember hearing the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, as a young boy, and imagining myself transported to that same extraordinary crossroad. I doubt I picked up on the details or nuances that we take notice of today, but I think I knew I was hearing about truly extraordinary men, and something stirred inside of me that made me want to be that kind man. 

Falling Successfully

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"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's might hand, that he may lift you up in due time."   2 Peter 5:5-6

It was splayed across the mountainside like a hat-pinned moth in a biology display case.  Fully intact and with no visible damage, the small plane was an eye-catching curiosity for every traveler going Eastbound through the Eisenhower tunnel at Colorado's continental divide.  It was an aluminum monument to the dangers of small plane mountain flying, resting just above the West portal.  

Surprise!

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"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows," James 1:17 (NIV)

This morning as I got dressed, I was pleasantly surprised to find $5.00 in a pair of pants that I have not worn for about three months. I like surprises; especially those surprises that benefit me. When I was a kid, I would beg my parents to buy me a box of Cracker Jacks, not because I liked caramel popcorn.

Credit God

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"When Peter saw this, he said to them: 'Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"   Acts 3:12 (NIV)

We admire rugged men...those who take control, who "seize the day." We honor those who tamed the West. We are inspired by rags-to-riches stories, and of those who say, "I did it my way."

All Star Wresting Rocked My Life!

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"The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead."  Acts 4:1-2 (NIV)

My world was turned upside down the day that I learned that professional wrestling was phony and fake. I was devastated to learn that my favorite wrestlers were part of a conspiracy to let some win and some lose. I was in my early teens when I discovered that Verne Gagne, The Crusher, The Bruiser, and Mad Dog Vashon were getting paid to win and lose in a scripted and choreographed wrestling match. How could this happen?

Have a Good Fit

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"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."  Ephesians 4:1

The sleeves were pure white leather and smelled like a new pair of gloves.  The body was deep maroon, with six large snaps down the front.  I can still feel the cuffs and waistband around me.  Nothing ever fit me better. 

Faith that Gets You Going

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"Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey."  Genesis 22:3

"Black Friday" starts early.  As early as 5 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, retailers begin luring buyers out of their beds and into their stores.   And the buyers come knowing they can find amazing deals.

Taking Pause

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"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."   Zephaniah 3:17

I have a favorite CD that I keep in my car.  When I play that CD, I am immediately drawn into worship.  It settles my heart and causes me to dwell on God's greatness.

Listening for God

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"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."  Psalm 27:13-14

Being an intentional man of God is a call to action. The action of marriage, fathering, work, community, church, and other types of activities, but part of being intentional is planning to be still and wait on God.

Just Like Dad

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"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." (Ephesians 5:1)

A few years ago I was in a men's group working our way through the book of Ephesians.  Our approach to studying this book was to take a portion of the scriptures and report back the next week on how we had applied it to our lives. 

The Prodigal Plan

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"I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." (Luke 15:19)

It was a confession and proposition that seemed reasonable to one who's squandered away his inheritance.  Perhaps it makes sense to you as well.  God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), yet how much living are we really doing?  How much godliness do we really possess?

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