Be Heroic
Thursday, 27. July 2006, 03:07:57
I have been wondering lately what GOD would have me work on in my personal growth as a Christian. A reply came in the form of a picnic get together earlier this month. My mentor and friend Rod has a son named Nathan. Nathan has just completed 2 years at a seminary style school called "Master's Commission". He's graduated and is ordained to do weddings and funerals.
He was the guest speaker at this picnic at Slate Run Park in Columbus, OH. He mainly talked about the lack of fathers in families and society in general. What stuck out in my mind were two phrases. The first came from his teacher/boss/mentor which he dubbed "The Law of the Lid". I will write a post later about this one. However, the second phrase Nathan made up to help us keep on the path of what we as Christians should already be doing. That phrase is "Be Heroic" Heroic means brave and of strong stature. Nathan, however, broke it down into an acrostic. An acrostic, for the unknowing, is a word in which the indivdual letters are also words. So in this post, Heroic (H.E.R.O.I.C) means the following:
H - Humble -> We should take the lower path. In other words, if people are talking let them talk and you listen. Make them feel special by asking them questions and getting to know them better. Be a servant. Notice I did not save slave. A servant is different. Do things for them. How else are they to know that "they shall know we are Chistians by our love".
E - Endure -> Many people give up at the first sign of trouble. Stay in there and get the task that God has given you completed. What would have happened if Jesus had quit on the cross? If you find someone difficult to deal with, keep being friendly and show them God's love. Don't give up.
R - Repentant -> Say your sorry to God for sinning against him and others. Be honest about it. God knows your heart and motives. God will forgive you and give you a new start. I ask to be forgiven every day. I'm trying to change some things in my life that isn't pleasing to God, and by His strength and mercy it will happen. Without repentance, our hearts will grow cold and will drift away from God.
O - Obey/Submit -> This is very easy if the people placed over us are on the same side as we are, but becomes much more difficult if they are not our friend or they are wrong about something. We are to obey even if they are wrong. This goes for all authority above us. A boss, a coach, a president. The Bible teaches us that God has but them in authority and God does not make mistakes. Submit doesn't really fit as part of the acrostic, but it's important because we can obey and grumble the whole time, but God looks are the heart and submitting means to obey with unconditional love.
I - Intercessor -> To plead on another's behalf. Jesus does this with the Father. We should do likewise and pray for others that are in desparate need. I had a severe physical illness a couple of years ago and in my mind, I didn't think I was going to live very long. People at our church went to their knees a prayed and interceeded on my behalf. Did it work? I'm here, alive today, to say infatically: YES! I can only return the gratitude with doing likewise for others. Am I 100% successful? No, but I'm working at it.
C - Compassionate -> We are to love others as much as we love ourselves. If this were to happen, do you think there would be war in the middle east? Jesus healed lepers, gave the blind their sight back, and had compassion on numerous others. Without love, what are we? Basically is love with a purpose. It is totally different than pity.
Well, I hope you received something from this. Think about these things and then try to implement them into your life and you will be far better off. I know I'm going to keep working at it.
Until next time.
-CN-
He was the guest speaker at this picnic at Slate Run Park in Columbus, OH. He mainly talked about the lack of fathers in families and society in general. What stuck out in my mind were two phrases. The first came from his teacher/boss/mentor which he dubbed "The Law of the Lid". I will write a post later about this one. However, the second phrase Nathan made up to help us keep on the path of what we as Christians should already be doing. That phrase is "Be Heroic" Heroic means brave and of strong stature. Nathan, however, broke it down into an acrostic. An acrostic, for the unknowing, is a word in which the indivdual letters are also words. So in this post, Heroic (H.E.R.O.I.C) means the following:
H - Humble -> We should take the lower path. In other words, if people are talking let them talk and you listen. Make them feel special by asking them questions and getting to know them better. Be a servant. Notice I did not save slave. A servant is different. Do things for them. How else are they to know that "they shall know we are Chistians by our love".
E - Endure -> Many people give up at the first sign of trouble. Stay in there and get the task that God has given you completed. What would have happened if Jesus had quit on the cross? If you find someone difficult to deal with, keep being friendly and show them God's love. Don't give up.
R - Repentant -> Say your sorry to God for sinning against him and others. Be honest about it. God knows your heart and motives. God will forgive you and give you a new start. I ask to be forgiven every day. I'm trying to change some things in my life that isn't pleasing to God, and by His strength and mercy it will happen. Without repentance, our hearts will grow cold and will drift away from God.
O - Obey/Submit -> This is very easy if the people placed over us are on the same side as we are, but becomes much more difficult if they are not our friend or they are wrong about something. We are to obey even if they are wrong. This goes for all authority above us. A boss, a coach, a president. The Bible teaches us that God has but them in authority and God does not make mistakes. Submit doesn't really fit as part of the acrostic, but it's important because we can obey and grumble the whole time, but God looks are the heart and submitting means to obey with unconditional love.
I - Intercessor -> To plead on another's behalf. Jesus does this with the Father. We should do likewise and pray for others that are in desparate need. I had a severe physical illness a couple of years ago and in my mind, I didn't think I was going to live very long. People at our church went to their knees a prayed and interceeded on my behalf. Did it work? I'm here, alive today, to say infatically: YES! I can only return the gratitude with doing likewise for others. Am I 100% successful? No, but I'm working at it.
C - Compassionate -> We are to love others as much as we love ourselves. If this were to happen, do you think there would be war in the middle east? Jesus healed lepers, gave the blind their sight back, and had compassion on numerous others. Without love, what are we? Basically is love with a purpose. It is totally different than pity.
Well, I hope you received something from this. Think about these things and then try to implement them into your life and you will be far better off. I know I'm going to keep working at it.
Until next time.
-CN-
WIDGETIZE