The heart: one thing that will ever be misunderstood, and yet is always the most effective communicator. You probably already know that the matters of the heart are important, but just how important are they?
“Guard your heart with all diligence my son, for out of it springs the issues of life.” – Prov. 4:23
Even the most generic cliché’s like, “Follow your heart,” indicate this truth. Passion, love, truth, and courage are all matters of the heart. These are the things that drive us, make us who we are. We express ourselves through emotions that find their origin in the heart. What you put in your heart, what you hold dearest to you, will invariably be that which comes out. And this is the reason we must guard our hearts.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The Guy They Want to Marry
Be the guy they want to marry. That has been my goal since I can’t remember how long. Of course only they can tell if I’ve succeeded, but success is not measured simply by results, it’s also measured by the effort and benefit you give and gain from it. Guys, I’ve come to realize that it’s time to step up and become the leaders we were born to be…to be men…to live in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord, and if you happen to incur the eye of a beautiful young lady along the way, Great! But honestly, that’s what I want: a girl whose eye is attracted to my whole hearted devotion to God and wants to become a part of that—after all, that’s what a helpmate is for. It’s all fine and dandy if you can manage the outward appearance of Godliness, but it’s the inner man and his integrity that show through in the end. This means that the greatest battle we fight is that with our own desires, we must fight the lust of our hearts.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
I’ve often wondered what kind of girl I would marry, and the only thing I could come up with were generalities such as Godly, pure, and beautiful. When I was a child, I once declared to my mother that I would marry her when I grew up. Naturally, I didn’t understand all the implications of that at the time, but now that I look back on it I see a certain childlike wisdom in the idea: to marry a girl like your mother makes good sense. I have thought more than once that I would even like to marry a girl like my sister in some aspects, which is a reason for me to guard her innocence against the worldly-minded guys that are out there. But conversely, you girls would probably be well off looking for guys who are like your fathers and brothers (assuming that they’re Godly gentlemen). I’m not saying that we should limit ourselves to this, but it seems a good general guideline to follow.
Anyway, you may disregard everything I just said because I’m still an unmarried young man, but I think there is at least the possibility that I’m right, and as I said before, “Only they can tell.”
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
I’ve often wondered what kind of girl I would marry, and the only thing I could come up with were generalities such as Godly, pure, and beautiful. When I was a child, I once declared to my mother that I would marry her when I grew up. Naturally, I didn’t understand all the implications of that at the time, but now that I look back on it I see a certain childlike wisdom in the idea: to marry a girl like your mother makes good sense. I have thought more than once that I would even like to marry a girl like my sister in some aspects, which is a reason for me to guard her innocence against the worldly-minded guys that are out there. But conversely, you girls would probably be well off looking for guys who are like your fathers and brothers (assuming that they’re Godly gentlemen). I’m not saying that we should limit ourselves to this, but it seems a good general guideline to follow.
Anyway, you may disregard everything I just said because I’m still an unmarried young man, but I think there is at least the possibility that I’m right, and as I said before, “Only they can tell.”
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
A Way Out
You ran into an impassible, invisible wall; it knocked the breath out of you, and you turn to find yourself cornered, hope of escape has all but vanished. The huge monster closes in: the only way out is a fight, but how?
How do you fight such an ominous beast? I'm sure you've been there; the place where you were trapped, you had no where to turn, nothing tangible to hold on to as you fell helplessly into the gaping abyss with seemingly no bottom. I've been there, with the ugly fiend of sin before me, secret but very real. All love, hope, joy, and delight were stolen away by the foreboding shadow looming before me. But in the midst of doubt and despair I caught a narrow glimpse of hope, the monster's weakness, it was found in the Bible.
The question presented in this verse is a valid one: by asking how a man may cleanse his way, the psalmist asks how one may be rid of the great sin-monster. His answer is terse (short and to the point), and it is not a philosophical wonder; it is a simple yet powerful solution to a prevalent problem. Heed God's Word. We know already that God's Word is the Bible, and if I assume that the very first post on this blog is truely founded, it would be safe to supopose that heeding God is congruent with heeding His Word, afterall "All scripture is God-breathed." Give it a try and see; I'm sure you'll be surprised by the results. Read the Bible daily, meditate on it, and keep it fresh on your mind throughout the day. God can help you defeat the secret sins that tear you apart.
How do you fight such an ominous beast? I'm sure you've been there; the place where you were trapped, you had no where to turn, nothing tangible to hold on to as you fell helplessly into the gaping abyss with seemingly no bottom. I've been there, with the ugly fiend of sin before me, secret but very real. All love, hope, joy, and delight were stolen away by the foreboding shadow looming before me. But in the midst of doubt and despair I caught a narrow glimpse of hope, the monster's weakness, it was found in the Bible.
"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." Psalms 119:6
The question presented in this verse is a valid one: by asking how a man may cleanse his way, the psalmist asks how one may be rid of the great sin-monster. His answer is terse (short and to the point), and it is not a philosophical wonder; it is a simple yet powerful solution to a prevalent problem. Heed God's Word. We know already that God's Word is the Bible, and if I assume that the very first post on this blog is truely founded, it would be safe to supopose that heeding God is congruent with heeding His Word, afterall "All scripture is God-breathed." Give it a try and see; I'm sure you'll be surprised by the results. Read the Bible daily, meditate on it, and keep it fresh on your mind throughout the day. God can help you defeat the secret sins that tear you apart.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
True Greatness
What's the meaning of greatness? Or even, how do you achieve it? It is really a simple problem to solve, but not always the easiest to execute. According to Jesus, the only perfect man to ever live--and therefore the greatest, greatness is putting others first:
"Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receivesAt first this comes across as anti-self, but a closer look at the meaning yields a description of anti-selfish. What Jesus meant was to put other's needs before our own so that our focus is not entirely on ourselves; he did not mean for us to neglect our own needs entirely. Jesus modeled this for us: He washed the disciples' feet showing the humility that is greatness, but the ultimate example is His sacrifice for His friends (a.k.a. "us") giving up everything he had to meet our need for salvation, knowing, however, that His Father would take care of His needs. Like I said before it's one of the simplest things to do in life, but it also happens to be the hardest. Strive for greatness; it's worth it.
Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."
(Luke 9:48)
"If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and
servant of all." (Mark 9:35)
"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this
little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:4)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
A Leader's Vision
"Leadership is influence" according to Randy Sims in His book The Greatest Among You. Everyone has influence, whether it's on many or a few, on public opinion or your younger sibling, there is always some measure of influence that you posses; it is unavoidable. You decide how you will influence people every day, for good or evil, wise or foolish. Even if the decision is unconscious, and you never thought of it that way before. Your decisions arise from a desire to "see" something happen: you make it happen. This desire is called Vision. All Leaders have some vision no matter where it came from or what it consists of. If they didn't have vision they wouldn't have a motivation to influence, and therefore wouldn't be leaders.
Vision is the ability to see what's not there, but not all leaders are gifted visionaries. A truly gifted visionary can see what's not there and form a plan to make it happen, often times when others would blow it off as an absurd whim and make nothing of it. Visionaries will pursue their goal by trying to convince the skeptical that their vision is plausible. However, visionaries do not always posses the resources or capacity to accomplish their goals and sometimes get discouraged from their visions by the rejection of skeptics.
Not all visions are of God or worthy of pursuit. But the best way to tell whether something is worth your time and effort is the Philippians 4:8 test:
A visionary possesses his gift from God, and should therefore pursue his visions as his calling to bring glory to God. To give up would not be right. First of all, if you're a visionary by this description: DON'T GIVE UP! Pursue those visions! I remind you of the possibility of the impossible in Philippians 4:13. Secondly to those of you who are not visionaries: do not be skeptics, but encouragers who are willing to provide the means for the execution of goals. Apply the Phil. 4:8 test to a vision and determine if you should join the effort and adopt it as your own; but "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ec. 9:10) and "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)
-Jonathan A. Bryce-<><
Comment Question: What are your visions?
Vision is the ability to see what's not there, but not all leaders are gifted visionaries. A truly gifted visionary can see what's not there and form a plan to make it happen, often times when others would blow it off as an absurd whim and make nothing of it. Visionaries will pursue their goal by trying to convince the skeptical that their vision is plausible. However, visionaries do not always posses the resources or capacity to accomplish their goals and sometimes get discouraged from their visions by the rejection of skeptics.
Not all visions are of God or worthy of pursuit. But the best way to tell whether something is worth your time and effort is the Philippians 4:8 test:
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."If the vision matches up with this verse then you should pursue it.
A visionary possesses his gift from God, and should therefore pursue his visions as his calling to bring glory to God. To give up would not be right. First of all, if you're a visionary by this description: DON'T GIVE UP! Pursue those visions! I remind you of the possibility of the impossible in Philippians 4:13. Secondly to those of you who are not visionaries: do not be skeptics, but encouragers who are willing to provide the means for the execution of goals. Apply the Phil. 4:8 test to a vision and determine if you should join the effort and adopt it as your own; but "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ec. 9:10) and "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)
-Jonathan A. Bryce-<><
Comment Question: What are your visions?
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Fiction and Fantasy
Imagination is a truly a wonderful gift from God. Contrary to the beliefs of a realist, fictional literature is quite useful. The point of fantasy is not only entertainment, but also the training of your mind for situations—learning lessons through the lives of people who do not exist. Naturally we cannot write anything that does not contain some amount of truth, no matter how twisted; therefore, even fiction is based largely on the truth of what actually exists.
For the reason above the Church “approved” and promoted fictional writing, in the past and even now, as an effective tool of discipleship because of the positive role models that could come ex nihilio (out of nothing) to help us live more like Christ. It is the abuse of this gift that causes Christians to look down upon fictional books, and this abuse quite possibly led to the belief that fiction is just another way to lie.
In response to the attitude that can be represented, “Anything fictional, being not entirely factual, is unprofitable,” I say: “You truly do not understand many things about reality because you refuse to experience the unreal.” The benefit depends greatly on the content of the work; but if the author has not abused his ability, and has done a moral and up-standing job, the possibilities are endless. Why? Because all things are possible with God: to comprehend the “impossible” is to have imagination. God is an unrealistic and incomprehensible reality. He’s supernatural; don’t put him in a box labeled “natural reality”.
-Jonathan-<><
For the reason above the Church “approved” and promoted fictional writing, in the past and even now, as an effective tool of discipleship because of the positive role models that could come ex nihilio (out of nothing) to help us live more like Christ. It is the abuse of this gift that causes Christians to look down upon fictional books, and this abuse quite possibly led to the belief that fiction is just another way to lie.
In response to the attitude that can be represented, “Anything fictional, being not entirely factual, is unprofitable,” I say: “You truly do not understand many things about reality because you refuse to experience the unreal.” The benefit depends greatly on the content of the work; but if the author has not abused his ability, and has done a moral and up-standing job, the possibilities are endless. Why? Because all things are possible with God: to comprehend the “impossible” is to have imagination. God is an unrealistic and incomprehensible reality. He’s supernatural; don’t put him in a box labeled “natural reality”.
-Jonathan-<><
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Perspective
Perspective matters. How you look at things determines your perception of them. It's like star gazing: if you focus on only one star, you miss the constellation that it's a part of; and if you focus exclusively on one constellation, you miss how all of them fit together properly.
In life, our perspective affects our decisions to a very great extent. Say two men wish to buy the same car; one has a yearly salary of $20K and a mortgage on his house, and the other has $70K a year and absolutely no debt. The former would take the purchase much seriously than the latter because of their very different means, their very different perspectives. It is that way in every other aspect of life as well: different people have varying perspectives, and they choose different alternatives as a result.
It is no different in the Spiritual realm. Spiritually there are two categories you can focus on: the materials of this life or the eternals of the next. Materials will rust, rot, or otherwise decompose, even if they don't before you die, they cannot go with you: they become someone else's until they perish either before or at the end of time. Eternals will last forever, you can never loose them, but you may not be able to posses them in the short time that we are here. The Word Himself and our souls, the souls of mankind (in essence us), are the only things that last forever. Jesus said to store up treasures in heaven for an eternity of bliss; though we might struggle here, we are promised peace. What these "treasures" are is a great mystery, but we do know how to obtain them. It is an action-reward system, not involving salvation but rather rewards for a job well done. The "last" on earth shall be "first" in heaven, and vice versa. Obedience is the key that unlocks the eternal treasure chest.
A particular perspective is known as a paradigm. If you've been making bad decisions and want to change, but you're not sure how to, change your paradigm from the material to the eternal. It's difficult, but it is definitely worth it.
-Jonathan-<><
Comment question: "What paradigm changes have you experienced?"
Write them in the comments of this post.
In life, our perspective affects our decisions to a very great extent. Say two men wish to buy the same car; one has a yearly salary of $20K and a mortgage on his house, and the other has $70K a year and absolutely no debt. The former would take the purchase much seriously than the latter because of their very different means, their very different perspectives. It is that way in every other aspect of life as well: different people have varying perspectives, and they choose different alternatives as a result.
It is no different in the Spiritual realm. Spiritually there are two categories you can focus on: the materials of this life or the eternals of the next. Materials will rust, rot, or otherwise decompose, even if they don't before you die, they cannot go with you: they become someone else's until they perish either before or at the end of time. Eternals will last forever, you can never loose them, but you may not be able to posses them in the short time that we are here. The Word Himself and our souls, the souls of mankind (in essence us), are the only things that last forever. Jesus said to store up treasures in heaven for an eternity of bliss; though we might struggle here, we are promised peace. What these "treasures" are is a great mystery, but we do know how to obtain them. It is an action-reward system, not involving salvation but rather rewards for a job well done. The "last" on earth shall be "first" in heaven, and vice versa. Obedience is the key that unlocks the eternal treasure chest.
A particular perspective is known as a paradigm. If you've been making bad decisions and want to change, but you're not sure how to, change your paradigm from the material to the eternal. It's difficult, but it is definitely worth it.
-Jonathan-<><
Comment question: "What paradigm changes have you experienced?"
Write them in the comments of this post.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
True Beauty
True Beauty is more than just skin deep. The hottest person in school isn't necessarily beautiful. Beauty is more than just being pretty; it is the presence of what's on the inside (your character) that shines through the outside (physical appearance). Your looks don't determine your beauty, your heart does.
All the pressure you get to dress like your peers is nonsense; the way you dress doesn't determine your beauty either. In the end physical beauty will leave, whether sooner or later, but your character lasts a lifetime, and even an eternity.
Feel beautiful because you are, and God says you are, not because other say you are or not.
-Jonathan-<><
All the pressure you get to dress like your peers is nonsense; the way you dress doesn't determine your beauty either. In the end physical beauty will leave, whether sooner or later, but your character lasts a lifetime, and even an eternity.
Feel beautiful because you are, and God says you are, not because other say you are or not.
-Jonathan-<><
Thursday, July 27, 2006
What are your thoughts?
The thoughts and ideas of others are sometimes the best encouragements that we can receive. Let's help each other think. Two heads are better than one are they not?
What are your thoughts? Write them in the comments of this post.
What are your thoughts? Write them in the comments of this post.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Making Good Time
Use your time wisely. After all, we only get so much of it in a lifetime. Is everything you do worth the investment of time you put into it? You may not like the amount of time you have or when you must spend it.
Spend time on things that last longer. Naturally you would rather spend time saving money for a more durable item that you can enjoy or use longer. According to Isaiah, two things last forever: the Word of God (Himself) and the souls of men. Invest time in the Word and the welfare of your fellow man. Redeem the time by investing it wisely.
-Jonathan-<><
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All
we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (Gandalf)
Spend time on things that last longer. Naturally you would rather spend time saving money for a more durable item that you can enjoy or use longer. According to Isaiah, two things last forever: the Word of God (Himself) and the souls of men. Invest time in the Word and the welfare of your fellow man. Redeem the time by investing it wisely.
-Jonathan-<><
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Word is Love
"In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
Since God is the Word and the Word became flesh, then the Word is Jesus Christ.
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." - 1 John 4:8
Therefore, since Jesus and God are one, Jesus is Love, and the Word is Love. How much more then should we love Him and one another?
-Jonathan-<><
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
Since God is the Word and the Word became flesh, then the Word is Jesus Christ.
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." - 1 John 4:8
Therefore, since Jesus and God are one, Jesus is Love, and the Word is Love. How much more then should we love Him and one another?
-Jonathan-<><
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