Band of Brothers

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       by Art Shorney

The Right to Choose

Take a look at the picture drawn in the 23^rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke where we see our Lord being taunted as he is crucified.  Jesus calls out to the Father and asks forgiveness for his tormentors, yet the people continue to mock and jeer.

Luke 23:33-43

 ³³When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.  ³⁴But Jesus was saying,” Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing “And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.  ³⁵And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”  ³⁶The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,  ³⁷and saying, ” If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”

 ³⁸Now there was also an inscription above Him, ” THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  ³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”  ⁴⁰But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  ⁴¹“And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  ⁴²And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”  ⁴³And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

In verses 39-43 Luke puts focus on the conversation going on amongst those hanging on the three crosses & herein we see the picture of everyone’s RIGHT TO CHOOSE. This doesn’t come along later, it’s immediate, it happens right there on the crosses – our innocent Lord hanging, suffering, dying, and while this is going on another person, a criminal, in the same circumstances, hanging on his cross taunts Jesus, saying “if you are God, save yourself and oh by the way save me too.” (sic) The other criminal hanging on his cross admonishes the first criminal questioning him by asking “you and I are guilty, suffering justly, don’t you realize whose presence you are in?” (sic)

 The 2^nd unnamed criminal asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into his kingdom. He makes his choice – He chooses the loving forgiveness of Christ and that very day was with Jesus in heaven.

We all have the RIGHT TO CHOOSE, we can choose to acknowledge that we are sinners, separated from God, and accept God’s grace through the redemption of the blood of Jesus OR we can reject him. Just like the two criminals hanging on the crosses to the left and right of our Lord Jesus, we have our choice to turn towards him or we can turn away.

Make the right choice, open yourself to God’s forgiveness and grace, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today, right now, just like the man hanging on the cross who choose eternal life through the redemptive blood of Jesus.

 Kevin Wagner shared this important post with me, thanks brother.  

WHO AM I? 

Why do we lose our joy? Why do we lose our self confidence and self esteem? I believe it is because we don’t truly know or have forgotten momentarily just who we are. 

It is so important for us to know Who we are in Christ Jesus. Who the Lord says we are in the Bible. Knowing who we are in Christ we can live a victorious christian life. Make time to read and meditate on His Word so you will know who the Lord says you are!  

In Christ…..I AM   

…..A Child of God 

 ”But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” John 1:12  

….A friend of Jesus 

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15  

….I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. 

“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 

….I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

….I am a member of Christ’s body. 

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 

….I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.  

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight” Ephesians 1:3-8 

….I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. 

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14  

….I am complete in Christ. 

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” Colossians 2:9-10 

….I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews4:14-16  

….I am free from condemnation. 

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1-2 

….I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 

….I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. 

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,”FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither (U)death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39  

….I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. 

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22  

….I am hidden with Christ in God. 

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 

….I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6  

….I am a citizen of heaven. 

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” Philippians 3:20 

….I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 

“For God has not given us a (A)spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7 

….I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. 

“We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18  

….I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5    

….I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. 

 ”You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16  

….I am God’s temple. 

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16  

….I am an Ambassador for Christ. 

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 

….I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. 

“and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,“Ephesians 2:6  

…I am God’s workmanship. 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 

….I may approach God with freedom and confidence. 

“in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”  Ephesians 3:12 

….I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

When Art Shorney asked me to write a blog entry for Band of Brothers several months ago I was more than happy to oblige.  When it came to actually writing it I wasn’t so quick to oblige.  Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months.  One daughter’s freshman year began, one daughter’s last year in grade school started, church, soccer games, basketball games, football games, in-laws in the hospital, in-laws out of the hospital, and … work.  Did I mention Sooner football?  I look up and it’s the middle of January – 2011!  Where had the time gone.

During this past fall things had gotten so busy I had quit going to Band of Brothers and was no longer able to work with AWANA on Wednesday nights.  It was all I could do to get to church on Sunday mornings.  I managed to get through the One Year Bible, had started a prayer journal – sort of, and began an accountability relationship.  But something was missing.  I was not sure what it was.  On January 16 of this year I had my answer:  continual and consistent interaction with men of faith.
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What is Biblical Manhood?  How do we teach it?

What is the role of men with families today?  I personally don’t believe that our roles have changed from the time of Adam.  Sure some duties, chores, etc. have changed, but not the role of men as God designed and delegated in Ephesians 5:25-31.  This passage doesn’t mention children.  I believe that is because God designed the family to be layered and structured.  The relationship with our wives comes first.  Children have amazing intuition and can/will pick up on any tension, anger, resentment or distrust between the husband and wife.  This is the key relationship in a Christian family.  Do we drop the ball, yes (often) Do we do everything right, no (often).  What we must do is keep trying.  This is a more powerful statement to our children than anything we can ever say.
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While I served four years in the Marine Corps, another Marine shared a 6 Point Challenge. This challenge was to be used when studying the Bible verses. You may want to use these questions so you can apply the verses to your daily life. 

1. Is there any example for me to follow?

2. Is there any command for me to obey?

3. Is there any error for me to avoid?

4. Is there any sin for me to forsake?

5. Is there any promise for me to claim?

6. Is there any new thought about God Himself? 

You can ask yourself these questions as you’re studying the Bible. Application is the name of the game when reading God’s word.

Thanks to Clint Blackman for the following:

There are over 2000 verses in the Bible on Finances. Here are a few:

Have you been completely above reproach in your financial dealings?

1. Matthew 24:45-51
2. Luke 16:10-13
3. If we are FAITHFUL, God promises us –
   1. Peace (John 14:27)
   2. Provision (Matthew 6:31-33)
   3. Prosperity (Matthew 19:29)
4. God owns it all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. His backyard and we play by HIS rules, not suggestions.
5. Out of balance on what HE says about finances brings
   1. Worry
   2. Greed
   3. Resentment
   4. Self indulgence
   5. Poor recordkeeping
   6. Anger, and lastly:
   7. Debt creates “Financial Bondage”

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Background

This is my testimony about my acceptance of the “inerrancy of the scriptures.”

I was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1929 of parents who were native Texans, Baptized at age 12, and then moved back to Texas when I was 21 years old. I attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TN., where I was a junior in college. During my time at HSU, I made many important life decisions and met my wife Mary. Also I was able to take several extra Bible courses in Baptist Doctrine and Religious Education.

A new phase of life began as I spent 2 years in the Army. Mary and I were active in a pioneer church in Indianapolis, IN. and during this time we had our first child, Nancy, She currently teaches Kindergarten at First Baptist Church Denton.

We moved to Austin to get my Masters in Accounting at UT Austin. Our second child, Lyn was born during this time. In 1956 I joined the national accounting firm of Touche Ross in their Dallas office. Three years later our third child William John Morris III, was born. My career continued and I became an Audit Manager. At this time a new role for me was as church treasurer of a financially deficient church, not a pleasant experience at all.  At age 29 I was ordained as a Deacon in Casa View Baptist Church & taught 12 year old boys in Sunday School for 1 year.
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By Joe Davis

Our trip to Haiti was very rewarding!  We have been back a few weeks
now and have had time to reflect on our experiences and enjoy our
pictures.

The men on the trip moved about 36 tons of rubble in 5 gallon pails
to clear off a foundation for a home.

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Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson

Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost …. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

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The Sunday evening BOB group was talking about movies as it relates to maintaining your sexual purity and one of the guys mentioned the following site on the web.  Let me know your thought on this and if you have ever used it to review either movies, videos, games, or television programs.
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