Calling All Men

Anyone out there a father, husband, or considering becoming one of the aforementioned? This is for you! A few months ago I was meeting with a group of guys and we were discussing what it looks like to balance our relationship with God and our busy work and home lives. I ran across my notes from that session and thought they could be a good conversation starter for other men who had similar concerns about these aspects of life. 

To start, God calls us to “seek first His kingdom” in Matthew 6:33 and in doing so, He will provide all of our necessities. Does this mean we don’t have to work? No, simply that there is no need to worry about these things. If we are seeking after what God has for us, the job or other means we need to have food, clothing, and shelter will be given. Placing highest priority on God, and His plans for us, frees us to do effective work. I believe this is the overarching principal to filter the rest of our activities and responsibilities through.

To balance all aspects of life, one must start with God. Discovering His plan for you and walking with Him will put work and family into perspective. Relying on Him to provide and working as though He is your boss puts you into a position to work an appropriate amount of time without going overboard. It seems to me that most overtime and overexertion at work is the result of chasing after worldly goals not Godly pursuits. If we can follow God’s lead with how much of our day should be at work, then the remaining time should be family time. Though it appears that I’m saying “give the family the leftovers”, this is not the case. As a husband and father, my priority is to be the vessel by which they receive their provision. If I am truly allowing God to lead, He will allow plenty of time at home. I reached this conclusion by looking at the situation from the opposite end. How can I quantify how much time I need to spend at home? Ideally, I would not work at all and spend time with my family. This is not my calling. I think that it is most effective to let God determine how much time the house needs by providing enough work rather than too much. Finally, if I need to be a good manager of my household, I need to be purposeful when I am there. Yes, it is where there is relaxation, but their must also be an atmosphere of love, teaching, and discipline that is soil for the growing children and refreshment for the wife. If I have enough time to instill these characteristics and values in my home, then my balance should be good, even if I am working full time. As with everything, it all comes down to following God first. Much of this balance problem is the result of chasing the wrong things. If I want what is truly best for my family, work will not be all consuming. 

My favorite example of man’s responsibility comes from I Timothy 3 ”A man should manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity”…”good managers of their children and their own households”. Clearly, work is not everything. If too much time is spent at work, how can one develop the rapport and relationship necessary to effectively lead his wife and children? Trust me; this is all easier said than done. This is an ongoing process within me and my family, but I know that this is a task that I cannot afford to fail at. I challenge all you men to seek God’s will and continually strive to successfully fulfill the role He has placed you in. 

By C. Sampson

Gleanings From Nature: Flock of Seagulls (You Thought this was an 80’s Flashback)

As a relatively consistent observer of nature, there are times when I see things that just seem odd. For example, Colorado as we all know is a landlocked state. And, being that a large portion of our landscape is either mountainous or prairie, one would not think this is the ideal location to watch for sea birds. Yet, without any crafty methods or covert operations, you can easily see several types of sea birds along the Front Range. Two of the most prominent are the gull (usually called a “seagull” but that’s a debate for another day) and the pelican, yes, the pelican. If you don’t believe me check out South Platte Park’s Facebook page for photos of a large flock. One of the craziest sights to behold is the massive, circling flocks of gulls at the local waste transfer station. The “sea” birds enjoy the easy pickings to be had at the dump and seem to thrive, even though there is no coastal area at all. Gulls were not necessarily designed for this particular location, but the birds have found provision and refuge in a foreign environment. I wonder if any of those gulls ever consider if there’s something better than eating someone’s discarded french fries…probably not. But, in a way, I sometimes feel like I’m living in a place that just isn’t quite right.

Do you ever get that feeling? Knowing that you were made and placed here at this particular time but also knowing that you were really made to soar along the coast not scavenge a Wal Mart parking lot?  I often think about what a perfect environment for me is. Clearly, on Earth, I can’t find it. Everything has been corrupted by sin in a painful way. Even nature, which was designed for me, cannot provide the security, comfort and resources that it once did. Why do I feel this way? Why the disconnect with my surroundings and unease about this place? The answer to this can be found in Philippians 3:20-3:21. My citizenship, along with the rest of Christ’s followers, is in heaven. My body was created for this Earth, but my soul longs to be in the presence of God. I thank God that even in spite of the fall He continues to provide for me, allowing me to have food, clothing, shelter and the ability to enjoy all the wonders of this Earth. He has taught me how to find provision and refuge in this world but there’s still that nag, that pull, that deep thought in the corner of my mind that tells me this is not where I ultimately belong. This is difficult for me. There are so many things I’ve come to love about this home and I sometimes get scared at the prospect of leaving it, especially to a place I’ve never seen.  Yet how can I overlook the fact that God has a perfect place out there? What would that gull say if you said to it “I know that you love living here at the transfer station, but I want to take you to the ocean”? The ocean, what the heck is the ocean? I’m sure that gull would choose to stay in the stench and noise of the dump even though that cool, salty breeze was only a stone’s throw away. I like to think that I’m smarter than a gull, but in this case I’m not so sure. My inability to physically see heaven provokes a fear that I have yet to conquer.

I hope that in time I can overcome this fear of the unknown and really embrace my heavenly citizenship. I’ve got to say I’m glad I’ve been given a dual passport, but my loyalty is often to the wrong domain. I’m curious to know if you’ve felt this way, too. Feel free to comment.

By C Sampson

Freedom

It is common among humans to desire and long for freedom.  America was built on the concept.  Interestingly, it is a significant theme in the Bible as well.  However, the Bible defines it somewhat differently.

For people in general, freedom seems to be defined essentially as self determination.  I do what I do because I want to, not because someone makes me do it.  Telling me I have to do something, or that I can’t do something, infringes on my freedom.

However, while the Bible often refers to freedom, the idea of “autonomy” (being self directed) is not the heart of this concept.  Instead of freedom meaning independence, the focus is what you can be set free “to” or “toward.”  

It is true that those who have a relationship with God through Jesus have freedom FROM sin.  However, the reason that Jesus came was not to bring freedom from sin, but relationship with the Father.  Payment for sin was necessary for that relationship.  Sin is what stands in our way of knowing God.  The point is that we were set free to be in relationship with God, not set free to follow our own way.

In fact, if we want to be free from sin and death, it will mean bondage to God.  This is exactly opposite of popular “spirituality” today.  People believe that they are spiritual fee agents.  However, The Bible makes it clear that this is absolutely and completely untrue.  Romans 6:20-23 says:

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Those who know God are set free, but they are set free to serve God. 

However, here’s the best news about this.  This service of God DOES NOT MEAN we are to try to help Him, to make Him happy, to add to who or what He is.  God does not need that from us, and we are incapable of it.  Acts 17 tells us that God “is not served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” 

What it DOES mean is that we are to be His children.  Not children like we think of today.  Children of His, like Jesus is His child.  Jesus does not merely live with His Father, He is part of His Father's life, plans, and intentions.  And, while we can’t do THAT on our own either, God makes it possible, by placing His Spirit inside those who know Him. 

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15)

While we must be a spiritual servant (slave) of something, knowing God means that our service of Him is not about being peasants trying to do His bidding.  We “serve” Him as sons and daughters of God.  And we do it in and through Him. 

While our humanness may want to be a spiritual independent free agent, we get to be so much more than that.  We are set free to be sons and daughters of God.  Our service is being a part of His work and His future.  Our freedom is not for us to be able to do whatever we want, because we will be forgiven anyway.  Our freedom is to open the door to walk in the presence of the Creator of all things, being a part of the greatest plan known to all creation, filled with His Spirit.  No greater freedom could be imagined.