TWMGDAAMM
Bill Poirier, KCG
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
What does it take to be a Christian man?
Hi Bill, As I read your e-mail this morning it made me ask myself, “What is reality in a Christian’s life?” What does it take to be a Christian man? What does God expect of me?
Because God knows me completely, inside and out, He knows not to expect too much from me. He knows that apart from Him, I can do nothing. But by His grace, He has given me some wonderful tools. He has given me prayer, the privilege of walking into the throne room and telling him exactly what is going on in my life and seeking the help I need. He has given me the ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be transformed by the renewing of my mind.
How does a man become transformed? By using the tool called CHOICE. We use the tool continually all through the day, whether it is consciously or unconsciously. When we wake up we can consciously decide to live our day to glorify our Lord. By not consciously choosing to do so, we unconsciously make the choice not to. We can consciously decide to work at having a better relationship with our wife and our children or by not consciously choosing to do so, we unconsciously make the choice not to. Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can react to a situation or consciously choose to respond to the situation. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year. We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence.
The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We also have to take the sole responsibility for those choices. We have both the ability, given by God, and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of a Godly life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth. We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives. And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the God given ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very next choice. Now just do it! And that is reality. When we walk to the edge of all the light we have, and we make the choice to take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. God will provide something solid for us to stand on... or He will teach us to fly." – Paul Marshall
Because God knows me completely, inside and out, He knows not to expect too much from me. He knows that apart from Him, I can do nothing. But by His grace, He has given me some wonderful tools. He has given me prayer, the privilege of walking into the throne room and telling him exactly what is going on in my life and seeking the help I need. He has given me the ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be transformed by the renewing of my mind.
How does a man become transformed? By using the tool called CHOICE. We use the tool continually all through the day, whether it is consciously or unconsciously. When we wake up we can consciously decide to live our day to glorify our Lord. By not consciously choosing to do so, we unconsciously make the choice not to. We can consciously decide to work at having a better relationship with our wife and our children or by not consciously choosing to do so, we unconsciously make the choice not to. Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can react to a situation or consciously choose to respond to the situation. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year. We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence.
The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We also have to take the sole responsibility for those choices. We have both the ability, given by God, and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of a Godly life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth. We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives. And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the God given ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very next choice. Now just do it! And that is reality. When we walk to the edge of all the light we have, and we make the choice to take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. God will provide something solid for us to stand on... or He will teach us to fly." – Paul Marshall
Wretched 'rescued' man that I am...
You know, I'm always trying to reconcile my faith in God through my Belief in Jesus Christ with the reality of what is going on in my private life.
You know what I mean, right? That private life we all lead and hope no-one else can see too clearly. You have one, right? Of course you do....
Anyway, since we all have one, you may be like me.... I'm always running into my weakness and slothfulness and 'worldliness' and falling short of what I read in the Bible or expect to be as a Christian man.
I feel so guilty everyday, many times, every few hours, about what I am thinking, saying and doing in my actual life vs what I know I am called to be as an example of a Christian man.
Paul relates to this paradox when he talks about his private life in Romans 7
"23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
Paul, the greatest Apostle and self proclaimed 'greatest of sinners' admits that he has this same paradox. He reconciles his condition and proclaims that God, through Jesus Christ has rescued him.
Our Belief and faith in God through Jesus Christ is the only way out from our private lives. This does not mean, I believe, that we will be pure or holy, but that through our faith in Him we are able to practice godliness, self-control and, most importantly, empathy for others because we know we are all the same.... in our private lives.
We know that our rescue came from our faith in God through Jesus Christ, so we are forgiven and clean and equiped by His Spirit to 'put on' the wonderful attributes of God's spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, perseverence, godliness, brotherly kindness, self-control and to grow in the knowledge of God. And, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are sinful beings, but it is the saving grace of God that has allowed us to get past our 'private lives' of sinfulness and to grow in the knowledge of God that we can ACT in love and hope and faith in this world.
Amen...
Love you all;
You know what I mean, right? That private life we all lead and hope no-one else can see too clearly. You have one, right? Of course you do....
Anyway, since we all have one, you may be like me.... I'm always running into my weakness and slothfulness and 'worldliness' and falling short of what I read in the Bible or expect to be as a Christian man.
I feel so guilty everyday, many times, every few hours, about what I am thinking, saying and doing in my actual life vs what I know I am called to be as an example of a Christian man.
Paul relates to this paradox when he talks about his private life in Romans 7
"23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
Paul, the greatest Apostle and self proclaimed 'greatest of sinners' admits that he has this same paradox. He reconciles his condition and proclaims that God, through Jesus Christ has rescued him.
Our Belief and faith in God through Jesus Christ is the only way out from our private lives. This does not mean, I believe, that we will be pure or holy, but that through our faith in Him we are able to practice godliness, self-control and, most importantly, empathy for others because we know we are all the same.... in our private lives.
We know that our rescue came from our faith in God through Jesus Christ, so we are forgiven and clean and equiped by His Spirit to 'put on' the wonderful attributes of God's spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, perseverence, godliness, brotherly kindness, self-control and to grow in the knowledge of God. And, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are sinful beings, but it is the saving grace of God that has allowed us to get past our 'private lives' of sinfulness and to grow in the knowledge of God that we can ACT in love and hope and faith in this world.
Amen...
Love you all;
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Been awhile, again, but that's life
Hey, Folks!! I know it's been awhile since I've posted for all to see, but, be of good cheer, I have been focused and growing in the Lord, though not informing all of you.
The best thing of all during this time, has been the time spent with my wife on the phone and, recently during a visit to New England. We have been able to enjoy each other as we focus on our growth in the knowledge of God and on each other's needs and desires. It has, truly, been a significant time in our marriage. Please pray for us as we continue to work through spiritual issues, especially trusting God and His plans for us, financial issues and for the protection and covering of our children and grandchildren. Thanks so much!!
What have I/we been studying or reading in the Scripture? Psalms 119 and Hebrews 1 - 8. What have we learned? That to glorify God is the only reason for being and that the ultimate sin/sinfulness is to 'not' believe in God.
That's right, there is only one reason for our life and it is to Believe in and Glorify God!!! For many of you that's a big; "Duh!", but for many of us it is a big "Wow" and "How".
I find it amazing how my focus on true life wanes when I am not in the word of God on a regular basis. My mind races back to a focus on myself and on what I need or what I want, you know? It is the natural order of things, I believe. We are prone to focus on ourselves above anything else and it is mind (or heart) boggeling. When we get back into the word of God we see that true life is about focus on Him and His will, His purposes and His work.
I've got to relate this story, in all it's truthfulness; I was on the airplane yesterday back to Jacksonville and, to make a long story shorter, this young, very attractive woman sat beside me. My first, wordly, thoughts were; "Wow, oh my gosh, yikes, oh my gosh." etc. etc. etc. (you men will know what I'm talkin' about). But, during the flight she began to speak to me about worldly stuff and how she felt the world needed to focus on 'Green' stuff (I'm sure I don't have to elaborate) and how that would make the world a better place. Well, you know where I went right away, to the Lord of course, and the conversation grew as I related that the illness in the world was an evolution away from Belief in God and how all the world's ills were a symptom of that illness. Well, I don't know how we got to the next level, but she shared a very, very personal story with me about her being raped when she was 15 years old and how it had 'BLESSED' her life. That's right, BLESSED, her life!!!! Through that tragedy she had, finally, met her husband and felt truly blessed and alive, but it was the tragedy that allowed that to happen.
Following our indepth and personal conversation my thoughts went to how the initial 'worldly' thoughts I had about this woman were absolutely the WRONG thoughts regarding God's reason for this woman and I to be sitting on the plane together. Through obedience to God, I was able to steer the thoughts and conversation toward Him to discuss 'real' issues and 'real' life with a woman I had just met. She continued to share how her life had been blessed and how she was helping her parents and her younger sister to focus on Christian things, etc, etc. But, we had a REAL discussion about God and ourselves and His purpose and will in our lives.
That was the reason for us to sit together on that plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all need to be REAL. We all need to keep our focus on our Belief in Him and growing in the knowledge of Him in our inner being that we can be ready to thwart the worldly, sinful thoughts and actions by focusing the conversation on HIM as He allows.
It is His will that we grow in that way.
Amen
Love you all
Bill/Dad
The best thing of all during this time, has been the time spent with my wife on the phone and, recently during a visit to New England. We have been able to enjoy each other as we focus on our growth in the knowledge of God and on each other's needs and desires. It has, truly, been a significant time in our marriage. Please pray for us as we continue to work through spiritual issues, especially trusting God and His plans for us, financial issues and for the protection and covering of our children and grandchildren. Thanks so much!!
What have I/we been studying or reading in the Scripture? Psalms 119 and Hebrews 1 - 8. What have we learned? That to glorify God is the only reason for being and that the ultimate sin/sinfulness is to 'not' believe in God.
That's right, there is only one reason for our life and it is to Believe in and Glorify God!!! For many of you that's a big; "Duh!", but for many of us it is a big "Wow" and "How".
I find it amazing how my focus on true life wanes when I am not in the word of God on a regular basis. My mind races back to a focus on myself and on what I need or what I want, you know? It is the natural order of things, I believe. We are prone to focus on ourselves above anything else and it is mind (or heart) boggeling. When we get back into the word of God we see that true life is about focus on Him and His will, His purposes and His work.
I've got to relate this story, in all it's truthfulness; I was on the airplane yesterday back to Jacksonville and, to make a long story shorter, this young, very attractive woman sat beside me. My first, wordly, thoughts were; "Wow, oh my gosh, yikes, oh my gosh." etc. etc. etc. (you men will know what I'm talkin' about). But, during the flight she began to speak to me about worldly stuff and how she felt the world needed to focus on 'Green' stuff (I'm sure I don't have to elaborate) and how that would make the world a better place. Well, you know where I went right away, to the Lord of course, and the conversation grew as I related that the illness in the world was an evolution away from Belief in God and how all the world's ills were a symptom of that illness. Well, I don't know how we got to the next level, but she shared a very, very personal story with me about her being raped when she was 15 years old and how it had 'BLESSED' her life. That's right, BLESSED, her life!!!! Through that tragedy she had, finally, met her husband and felt truly blessed and alive, but it was the tragedy that allowed that to happen.
Following our indepth and personal conversation my thoughts went to how the initial 'worldly' thoughts I had about this woman were absolutely the WRONG thoughts regarding God's reason for this woman and I to be sitting on the plane together. Through obedience to God, I was able to steer the thoughts and conversation toward Him to discuss 'real' issues and 'real' life with a woman I had just met. She continued to share how her life had been blessed and how she was helping her parents and her younger sister to focus on Christian things, etc, etc. But, we had a REAL discussion about God and ourselves and His purpose and will in our lives.
That was the reason for us to sit together on that plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all need to be REAL. We all need to keep our focus on our Belief in Him and growing in the knowledge of Him in our inner being that we can be ready to thwart the worldly, sinful thoughts and actions by focusing the conversation on HIM as He allows.
It is His will that we grow in that way.
Amen
Love you all
Bill/Dad
Sunday, February 24, 2008
It's amazing how life goes........
If we really, really look back into our lives, isn't it amazing? We worry and fret. We want to protect ourselves. We want it all, but................. we're just living.
Has there been any calamity that we weren't able to overcome, with God's help? Did those incredibly scary times actually result in anything that is of lasting significance, in God's eyes? Yes or no?
I have this guilty, uncomfortable feeling that there are some out there that may be thinking; "Yeah, right, Bill, how offensive is that!! You don't know about my ____________ 's suicide or how that drunk driver hit those wonderful people head-on and ________ (result). What do you have to say about that?" I say; "IN GOD's EYES!!"?
Most of our lives are pretty stable. Yeah, we've been anxious and afraid and all, but, look back and see; did our worries and concerns really result in calamity? hummmm?
As most of you know, I have been challenged (to say the least) with my career over the past few years (more like 15 now!!) and I have fretted and frowned and complained and cursed (yes, cursed) more than a few times about my situations and my supervisors and the lack of 'fairness', etc. etc. etc.
But, two Friday's ago........ I was blessed with worldly opportunity to succeed through my own efforts. I was challenged to structure and implement a plan. I have been given the reigns to 'do the right thing' and be responsible and accountable for my portion of the business I am in.
When I look back on the 'gnashing of teeth', the 'wringing of hands' the tears and cursing, were those all bad things? Was that experience for some other reason? Could those challenges and encounters and relationships have been a good thing? IN GOD's EYES!!
Psalm 149
1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.
We are the people of Israel and Zion because we are the children of Abraham through our faith in God through Jesus Christ!!!! We are the ones the 'Lord takes delight in'. Because of our humility before Him and His plan, He has given us salvation.
Let us, His saints, REJOICE!!! REJOICE!!! in this HONOR and sing for joy on 'our' beds!!!
Let's keep things in perspective, folks. We are so, so, so blessed by Him when we Believe and act like we Believe.
Amen, love you all
Bill/Dad
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sometimes you win.. Sometimes you lose...
(pssstt, those are my snow angels, my grandchildren... hahaha)
Well, I wanted to continue with the Lord's prayer, and I will shortly, but, this week, athletically and professionally, I have witnessed somes losses and some wins, so I wanted to focus on these events from a spiritual perspective, of course.
The Camden County Lady Wildcats' season ended on Tuesday with a loss in their first post season game in Savannah. As Coach Ellis shared with me in an email, "This is disappointing, but not surprizing...." Man, it's disappointing to end the season earlier than you're used to.....
The Cardinal Spellman Lady Cardinals, my daughter Reilly's team, lost their first game of the season after going 17 - 0. The most disappointing thing was that it was to recent archrival, Archbiship Williams to whom they lost in the State tournament last year to end their season. During the post season, they will probably face Archies again down the road; gulp, gulp.
These are very disppointing ocurrences, aren't they? You know you wish and hope and pray that your team will win or that you won't be disppointed, right? But, life is repleat with disappointment...... why?
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he (she) should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (her). 6 But when he (you get it, lol) asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
Man, it's a trial to lose!! I've heard; "I hate losing". Amen!! But, losing is a fact of life in sports and in daily living. "Consider it pure joy??"
"The testing of your FAITH develops PERSEVERENCE (a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement). Oh oh, we're back to this faith thing again, duh, Faith in God... belief in God, faith in God. Life is all about our faith in God!!!!
So, the trials produce perseverence and "perseverence must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." There is so much more here to focus upon, but in trying to keep this entry at a reasonable length, perseverence when facing trials and 'losses' produces a mature and complete Believer in God!! And continues to prepare us for eternity with Him.
I was sharing with my Mom yesterday that my life should be a book titled, "Persecution". I only shared with her two real incidences out of many of severe persecution in my professional life that resulted in God's will being done; the sharing of the gospel and the caring/love for another person. Those persecutions resulted in God's will being done and my becoming more mature in my faith for the benefit of others in the future and, I'm sure, in my being prepared for my eternity with Him.
Sometimes you win.... Sometimes you lose, but, the losses are really wins if we apply the lessons from above; We're more mature and complete if we persevere. There's always the next game and the next season and the next experience leading to our growth and preparation for eternal life with God.
Amen
Coach Bill
Friday, February 8, 2008
How to Pray?
When I first joined the Lady Wildcats' I was really impressed with their prayer before the game. It is the "Our Father" or the "Lord's Prayer", and is a ritual that the girls conduct just before taking the court for the game. It is wonderful!!
The prayer is brought to us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:9-13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=6&version=31#fen-NIV-23296a
Jesus' preface; "This, then, is how you should pray;" is pretty clear and it has become the universal CHRISTIAN prayer by most denominations.
Let's take a look at what this prayer is saying;
1. Before the prayer, Jesus says; "Do not be like the hypocrites." and goes on to explain that the many words of the hypocrites and the way in which they pray; out in the open so as to be seen by others as 'righteous', is not the way that we should pray. In other words, He is saying to be earnest and focused on the prayer you are offering to God; "go into your room, close the door and pray to your father." He is not saying that you can't pray publicly, He is saying to be sincere and focused on the Father.
2. Also, 'do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words'. Do you know what a pagan is? A non-Believer in God. Again, He is saying; Believe in God and pray to Him in earnestness, genuineness, heartfelt and attentive prayer, because; "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Matthew 5:9-10 'This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'
'Our Father' means just that; Our Father!!!!!!!!!! He made us, He sustains us. When we address Him in this way, we are saying; I BELIEVE YOU and I BELIEVE IN YOU. This is the basis of real FAITH. You can expect NO response from God if you don't BELIEVE in HIM!!!
More tomorrow...
Lady Wildcats; Think of this as you pray on Tuesday before your game. Believe in Him, ask Him for His will to be done during this BIG game on Tuesday. Ask Him to strengthen you, to inspire you, to enliven you and your teammates and for the other team to play their best and to grow in the knowledge of God. If I'm not there with you, I will be praying for you all during the game.
Be warriors, for Him.
Coach Bill
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