Anybody can be a parent, it takes effort to be a Father

Alright boys and girls... I'm a little delayed on this post, but I've been UBER-busy this week. This post is in response to the latest posting on Cup O'Joe (click on post title for the link).

Interestingly enough, I received my monthly newsletter from Charles Simpson a day or so before that post. (In fact I was gonna post this topic on my other blog, random acts of consciousness, but it fit too well here.. so I posted something else there.... check it out, lol) It was specifically speaking about Spiritual Fathers, which I think is just another term for the questions and comments Bill posted. On a side note, I absolutely LOVE when I find God quickening the spirits of two unrelated Men of God in completely different parts of the country in the same direction, continues to show me that God still moves and cares about His people.

The church has gotten away from the idea of "Fathering Spiritually". It's what Jesus did. He was the original "Church Father", but we have relegated that term to a position. If His spirit is one of fathering, then since we have that same spirit shouldn't we have a desire to raise up spiritual children. The apostles did. Unfortunately though, when someone says the "Church Fathers" they often just mean the apostles or leaders of a faith movement (ex. Martin Luther, John Calvin, etc.) I myself have often done that. But "Church Fathers" are meant to continue to train and raise up children. What does it mean to be a father in the natural sense? It means you teach, you train, you model, you encourage, you discipline, you love your child. The biggest key is you invest time and effort in their lives. A true father tries to raise good men and women. A true father is about the joy and fulfillment of the child than himself. It's not easy, but it is so important. Unfortunately our culture is so much of a "Me first" society that even fathering (and mothering) in the natural has taken a hit. It's more about "My time" and "my leisure" than our families. Now personal time is important, but not to the extent our society portrays. I know a number of post-college, late 20's adults who don't have any desire to have children because it would encroach upon "their lives and time". This type of self-centeredness has crept into the lives of believers as well and affected the view of fathering and mothering spiritual children. A believer should be trained by someone who has been there, or have a spiritual parent (often more than one... I know I have multilple). And that same believer should then be urged by the Spirit of God to turn around and raise up spiritual children. But, a pastor who is judged by the size of his congregation doesn't have time to invest in individual lives, the majority of the congregation would suffer (or so it's implied). And the person who attends cannot be bothered to raise up spiritual children, it would encroach upon their lives... and it's the pastor's job anyway, isn't it?

One of the reasons I feel that we have lost this passion for fathering (and yes this is MY OPINION feel free to disagree and take it for what it's worth... a young man in God, NOT AN EXPERT, ha. Just a disclaimer) is that the pendulum has swung too far. There has been a wonderful move within believers to make our walk with Christ a personal one. It is about a personal relationship. However, if we ONLY focus on our personal relationship, then it excludes anyone else. We all become individual ships in the sea of God. We don't interact and if we do it's just in passing. As a result there are a LOT of believers who have never reproduced.

What then shall we do? We need to restore the Spirit of God, which is a spirit of fathering and mothering. Again there has been an exceptional movement to restore God's Truth. But God's truth without God's spirit becomes legalistic. The law given to the children of Israel was truth then just as it is now. But without the Spirit of God brought into lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they could not satisfy the law. We often see grace as the opposite of law. But it is not. Grace is the difference between living under the law in condemnation and living with the law in us as life.

Ok.... there's about a thousand more things I have running through my head, but I'll stop now. God bless for anyone crazy enough to read through this. As always comments/question/disagreements are always welcomed enthusiastically.

The maiden voyage...

Welcome to the first posting of The Caffeine Buzz. Since the posts on this blog are all a result of postings on Cup O' Joe with Bill, I thought the title was only appropriate. The purpose of this blog is NOT to put my thoughts above anyone else who comments on Bill's page, but so I don't overload the comment space with my ramblings and musings... it's not my page, BUT this one is. :D I will still be participating in general discussion with comments, but now I can run with any rabbit trails or extended thoughts as I choose. So on with the show...

(Click on this posts title to be taken directly to the post on Cup O' Joe)
This was an intriguing scene to say the least. First of all, EXTREMELY well acted (I am a huge fan of theater both live and on the screen, ha). But what intrigued me the most was the comments by the chaplain and the reaction of the patient. I had to ask myself how I would react in that situation if I were the chaplain. What would I say? What would I say to anyone seeking answers for their life's path? I think the time we live in people are desperately seeking answers, but not just answers. They are seeking people who not only believe the answers they have to share, but those who live them as well. The world is tired of hearing "Christians" spout religious rhetoric with nothing to back it up... and it makes perfect sense. How can we offer anything if we don't live it? How can I claim that the person across from me choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior if I'm not. If I don't believe in God as absolute truth, how can I proclaim Him as God? If I don't love others, why should they believe me when I say Jesus loves them?

We can't give what we don't have. Period. Who would you rather go to for advice on raising kids? A parent who got C's in school or the genius high school freshman who almost at college level? Duh, right? Well who would a person seeking truth in God rather hear about Him from, a person who lives the love of God daily or the person who proclaims God on Sunday and gossips about coworkers on Monday? One of my favorite scriptures is Acts 3:6. The scene is at the temple gate and Peter and John are walking by a lame man. The lame man asks for some money and Peter's reply is "I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" (Acts 3:6 NLT) I'll give you what I do have. The lame man wasn't healed because Peter knew God could. He wasn't healed because someone had told Peter about healing. He was healed because Peter had the Spirit of the Living God in him. He lived what he preached. So the question becomes what do I have to offer? Do I have another list of things to do just like the self-help books? Do I have a bunch of good ideas and nice platitudes to offer? Or do I have the life that God gives freely flowing in me?

Now I'm not perfect and will never claim to be. Nor have I had a life that would qualify as extremely rough. And I don't have all the answers (If I did, then I'd be God, but that's another whole post in and of itself). But I have had my share of trials. And I've had my share of situations that I just don't understand. But I do know that God is God. That I love others because He loves them. That I love others because He loved me first, someone wholly undeserving of any love. I know that the Holy Spirit lives in me. The same Spirit that was in the apostles works in my life. And I know that He wants to work in every life I come in contact with. That I know. I know the truth and that is what I have to give.

God bless. For anyone who lasted through that entire thing I commend you. I strongly encourage you to read Cup O' Joe with Bill faithfully and join in on the conversation. Please feel free to share any thoughts you have, agreeing or disagreeing all are welcome, all I ask is that it be kept clean. (I only put the comment moderation on so I can filter out profanity and spam.) And I want to give a very special thanks to Bill Allison for everything he does and all that he means in my life. If you get a chance to hear him speak I strongly encourage it. He is on the short list of people who make up my "I am who I am in ministry because of..." list. He is an amazing man of God, an amazing father, an amazingly lucky husband (if you've met Stacy and her never ending patience you know EXACTLY what I mean, ha) and one of my dear friends. Thanks Bill and God bless.