Less Than A Man??

This post isn't going to be a Biblical post like most of mine are. This one is going to be more personal and transparent.

I keep seeing a lot of videos and articles about how are you aren't a man if you do or don't do "fill in the blank."

For example, I bought my Jeep because I thought that it looked cool. I've always wanted a Jeep, and when the opportunity came to buy one, I jumped on it. Once owning it, I found out it is really awesome and fun to drive. I love getting the ducks, and Jeep waves when they occur. I liked being able to personalize it with my own decals on the hood and spare tire cover. Showing it off makes me happy. Friends always comment on how clean it is, and how awesome it looks.

But here come the comments that because I don't want to take my Jeep off roading or 'rock climbing' I am all of a sudden a pavement princess. Excuse me, what??

After paying "X" amount of dollars for my Jeep, the last thing I want to do is take it off roading and tear it up. If I wanted to do that, I would have bought a beater one.

So if wanting my Jeep to be show worthy makes me less than a man, then so be it. Just annoys me how other people judge me on what I choose to do with it! 

Then I see videos of what men are supposed to act like. I know that these videos are generalizing, but still. Trying to make me feel less than a man because I do or don't do certain things.

One video shows a guy getting out of the shower. According to the video, a man gets out completely wet, and shakes like a dog, spraying water all over the bathroom. A manly mans action according to this videos creator. A less than a man dries off in the shower before getting out. That is what I do. I don't want the drying mat that both my wife and I use to be soaking wet. I don't need water to be dripping down the walls or mirror. I consider my better half as well. I am not the only one that lives here. It's called respect.

There are a few other things, but these are the two that really irritated me lately.

What is so wrong with a man being considerate? Nothing in my book. I guess I am in the minority, according to things that I see and read.

Philippians 2:3-4 Amplified Bible

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Living Bible

24 Don’t think only of yourself. Try to think of the other fellow, too, and what is best for him.

Would you look at that. I managed to sneak some verses in after all!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Unmovable!

 

A friend of mine from church gave me this little Jesus figure. I thought that it was awesome. I placed it in my Jeep, on the dash with the little micro ducks. Every time I would look at it, I would be reminded that Jesus is with me in my Jeep. No matter where I drive or go, He is there, with me. Pretty cool I thought.

Last week I drove down to Peoria to volunteer at Winter Jam. A Christian music festival that tours through the winter months. The drive for me was about 2:15. As I was heading down the highway, I looked at the little Jesus figure, and it hadn't moved. At all. I placed it on the dash, and it has stayed where I put it, the whole time. As you can tell from the picture, the little micro ducks move and slide every which way. Never stay put. The little Jesus figure would vibrate and shake, but never move! 

So of course this got me thinking about the real Jesus in my life. How He is unmovable! Unshakeable! No matter what happens, Jesus stays put!

Proverbs 18:10 Living Bible

10 The Lord is a strong fortress. The godly run to him and are safe.

If He can calm the winds and waves during a storm, for the disciples without being shaken or worried , what can He protect you from? What kind of storms are you facing? Run to Jesus, He is our strong tower. Our refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1-2 Amplified Bible

46 God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble. 2  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,

We may be facing all kinds of situations. Things that we think that we cannot get through. That's true. We can't do it alone. We need help. 

Psalm 121:1-2 New Living Translation

1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

So why not lean on, trust in and rely on The One who is never shaken. Never moved. The One who is always there? Things may look impossible for us, but not for God!

Matthew 19:26 Amplified Bible

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So I encourage you this day. Trust in The Lord. The one who never changes, never backs down and is for you, always!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Subtle.

 I watch a lot of videos where there is a person giving either a first reaction to the song, or just a plain reaction, breaking down the song. Giving their opinion on what they think about the lyrics, guitar, drums, bass & vocals. Some are quite entertaining, some are frustrating. 

But I keep watching!

So I was watching one the other day, and the guy was breaking down a Stryper song. It was one of their newer ones, and he really liked what he was hearing, but.........He gave it a lower score because, take a guess? They sung about Jesus. The lyrics were all about Jesus, and directly from the Bible. The video had all kinds of Christian symbolism in it. Showing a Bible. The Cross. Jesus!

He said that he is not religious and doesn't have a problem with it, but he just wished that they would tone it down. He thought that the song and video were to much up in your face with Christ and The Gospel.

He wants them to be more subtle, like Skillet. According to him, Skillet hints at Christianity, without fully saying it in their songs! 

I have heard this about Skillet myself. Don't get me wrong, I really like Skillet, but I have a friend who went to seem them live at a secular music festival. I asked her after, if they ever mentioned the name of Jesus, God or Holy Spirit. She told me no. Not one mention!

I told her I thought that was kind of ironic, because I have seen them perform at a Christian festival and they spoke about Jesus, God and The Holy Spirit throughout the whole show. But when they performed for a secular crowd, you know the ones that really need to hear the name of Jesus, nothing. Kind of changed their set, to blend in with the rest of the bands.

I always thought that Jesus wants us to be bold for Him?

Acts 4:29 New Living Translation

29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

Then I thought that we are not supposed to be quiet about Jesus?

Psalm 107:2 The Message

107 2 All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression

Sounds like Stryper is doing it the right way, in my humble opinion. Some of the other "Christian" bands on the other hand, seems like they pick and choose when to speak about God.

I personally love what Stryper is doing with their music. I pray that they never change due to per pressure! Keep rockin' for Jesus!

Matthew 10:33 New Living Translation

33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

P.S. This is not a knock on Skillet. I'm just reacting to the reactor's comments about them.

Disagree!

 With all the turmoil going on across the country with debates, protests and rioting about illegal immigration, I disagree with one thing.

People keep trying to say that Jesus was an immigrant. I disagree with that statement. This is Webster's dictionaries definition of immigrant vs. refugee. 

immigrant (noun)

i·​mi·​grant ˈi-mi-grant 

: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence

Refugee (noun)

: one that flees

especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution

Based on these two definitions, Jesus was a refugee, not an immigrant. Joseph, Mary and Jesus didn't migrate to Egypt, they fled there after a dream where an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. They fled for the fear of King Herod trying to kill Jesus after He was born. Herod was notified that a new King of the Jews was born. Jesus' family fled to Egypt, to seek refuge out of Herod's jurisdiction. Where they knew they would be safe. (Matthew 2:13-15)

They fled, not migrated to Egypt. According to Websters dictionary as mentioned above, an immigrant moves to another country to stay permanently.

Joseph and Mary only stayed in Egypt until Herod's death, then they returned to Israel. So by definition, a refugee. At least the way that I understand the meaning.

I see church signs across the area that state that Jesus was an immigrant. To me they are just trying to appease the masses.

Well I say "hogwash" 

Like I said, just my two cents on the topic of Jesus being either an immigrant or a refugee. 

According to Websters dictionary, what He and His family were are crystal clear!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.