Positive Mental Attitude: A Leadership Force Multiplier

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. –- Romans 12:11-12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
-- 1 Timothy 4:12

Sometimes, the hardship or frustrations of life cause us to forget important lessons that God teaches us. This happened to me recently. My job has been very difficult for several months. It has required much more effort than usual with much fewer results. Add to that other stresses of life and, without realizing it, my attitude had changed. This change was brought to my attention by the CEO of the company I work for when he approached me one day.

“Mike, you’ve been having a tough time lately haven’t you?”
“I have,” I answered. “How did you know?”
“Your attitude changed,” he said. “You’ve been noticeably frustrated lately. I understand why, but the problem is that your attitude is also having a negative effect on several of your counterparts. They watch you, you know. They follow your lead. It is having a marked affect on the company.”

I was shocked. I had no idea this was the case. I did not realize my attitude changed but, apparently, others around me did. Others who I didn’t even know were watching. Others I didn’t even know paid any attention to me. I had forgotten a basic rule: Leadership by example includes consistently maintaining a positive mental attitude. In the military, this type of thing is referred to as a “force multiplier” -- a capability that, when added to and employed by a combat force, significantly increases the combat potential of that force and thus enhances the probablity of successful mission accomplishment. In fact, a positive mental attitude is so important that the United States Air Force puts it atop the list of “The Seven Priorities of Survival” they teach at SERE (Survive, Escape, Resist and Evade) school. It is above everything else, including fire, shelter, water and food.

Young men, the point is that Christ-centered leadership is never about you. It is always about those around you. It is not about how much you can take, but rather about how much you can give. The Apostle Paul understood this well. Read Philippians 1:1 – 2:18. He is writing this letter to the believers in Philippi … from prison. If anybody had a reason to be frustrated and discouraged, it was Paul. But he wasn’t. He rejoiced (1:18). Why? Because he understood that God was using his chains to advance the gospel (1:12) and cause Christ to be preached (1:18). Not only did he lead by example, but he also encouraged others to as well (2:1-4), reminded them of why they should do it (2:5-11) and urged them to share in his gladness and rejoicing (2:12-18). If you ask me, Paul was the ultimate encourager and a master of positive mental attitude.

I was thankful for the gentle, but candid reproach of my boss that day. He was right and it snapped me out of it. It also reminded me that Christ uses men who are wholly committed to Him to lead the way, that people are following that lead even when we don’t realize they are doing so and that a positive mental attitude is a core part of leadership.

I pray that I will not forget that lesson. I also pray that neither will you.

Mike McFarland
2010 Challenge Guest Director

And God Will Make You Fit

"I am crucified with Christ." Galatians 2:20

You’ve heard me describe the meaning of the verse about, “No greater love has any man than he lay done his life for another”. Most of us associate the action of “laying down” with being willing to die. You’ve heard me say that this means not only being willing to lay down your physical life but also and more importantly laying down your desires, your plans, your thoughts, and your attitudes. No one is ever united with Jesus Christ until he is willing to relinquish not only sin, but his whole way of looking at things. Advancing from the theme of Challenge 2009, resolved, ransomed, we need to relinquish. To be born from above of the Spirit of God means that we must first let go before we can seize. The initial phase of this objective is letting go of all deception. What is it that you have that God wants? What is it that we can produce that he wants to take from us? What Our Lord wants us to present to Him is not goodness, nor honesty, nor endeavor, but real solid sin; that is all He can take from us. Remember the verse about God not being able to be in the presence of sin. What does God give in exchange for our sin? Real solid righteousness. Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. And why does he do this…for His Name’s sake. This transaction is that important. God wants glory. He will get glory. He wants the glory to come through you and me. We have an awesome opportunity to be made right. And God will make that possible for His Name’s sake. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Psalm 35:24

In the next phase, the Spirit of God will show us what further there is to relinquish. In the spirit of Challenge 2009 “Ransomed”, we have been bought with a price we cannot repay. The fact that we cannot afford to repay does not mean we should not try. We must give-up all fakeness of being any thing. We need to give-up all claims of being worthy of God's consideration. Here will have to be the relinquishing of any claim to the right to self. Am I willing to relinquish my hold on all I possess, my hold on my affections, my hold on my family, my holdon my career, and on everything, and to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?

There is always a sharp painful dashing of hopes to go through before we do relinquish. What I mean is when a man really sees himself as the Lord sees him the awful nature of pride is appalling. We realize how our own heart is against Jesus Christ. When we see ourselves in the light of the Lord, the shame and the horror and the desperate conviction come home. We question how we got to this point and the answer is disappointing to say the least. Review the February blog entry “Where the rubber meets the Road” for a reminder about being against Jesus.

Challenge 2009 brought us to the realization that we are not our own. We must live for God. If you are up against the question of relinquishing, go through the crisis, relinquish all, and God will make you fit for all that He requires of you.

Challenge 2010 will introduce you to that requirement. This year’s theme is Righteous Revolution. At Challenge you will be equipped and trained to make a stand with Jesus to thwart the enemy. The victory begins with you. On the inside and comes out. It continues in your family then to your community then to your state, your region, and your nation. Join the Challenge staff and me as we prepare to impact our nation for Jesus Christ.

Challenge Program Director
Bruce Stansbury

Godly Leadership: There's Gotta Be A Difference

There’s gotta be a difference.
It’s gotta be significant.
If you’re really inside changing my life
You would shine, You would be evident
if there’s a difference.
There’s a difference.

The Difference (lyrics excerpt)
Philmont

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Joan of Ark was different. Very different. She was a peasant woman in a man’s world. Yet, God gave her a mission in life that most would think only the bravest of knights might have any hope of achieving. The place was France. The year was 1429. The situation was grave. The country was divided, without a king on the throne and in danger of being taken over by the English. Joan’s mission was to facilitate the restoration of her country’s independence by convincing the discouraged, displaced king to rally his loyal followers and lead them into battle in order to reclaim his rightful place on the throne. Completing this mission required her to journey alone through dangerous enemy territory, gain the audience of untouchable French nobles and lead soldiers into battle against a superior opposing force. Her differences made it incredibly difficult – seemingly impossible -- to accomplish the purpose Christ had for her. But that did not stop her. She did not let it discourage her, distract her from her mission or compromise her purity. She accomplished all of it … at the age of 17. She embraced her difference and made a difference. She may have been a woman, but men of God can learn from Joan of Ark.

Young men, do you ever feel like you don’t “fit in”? Do you get ridiculed or made fun of by others for not taking part in activities that the world says is normal and acceptable? If not, you may have a problem. If so, good! You are on the right track. You are not supposed to fit in. You were created to be different. The Psalmist writes of this when he says, ““the Lord has set apart the godly for himself” (Psalms 4:3). Did you catch that? Set apart. Different. The New Testament speaks even more strongly about this difference in 1 Peter 2:11-12: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” In other words, if you desire to be a man of God, then you are expected to be different from the world around you.

It is important to be different for several reasons. First, having the courage to be different teaches you to rely on God’s strength and measure your worth based on God’s standard of approval, not the world’s standard. If you make decisions based on the world’s opinion of you, then your heart will become hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13). You will not be able to hear the voice of God, understand His purpose for you or be used by Him. That is why Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” You should also be different because God demands it. If you are a friend of the world it means that you hate God and are His enemy (James 4:4). Like it or not, there is no middle ground. In the words of Joshua, “Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.” Finally, we need to understand that being different pleases God and that He will reward us for it. This is a recurring theme in the Bible, but especially in Hebrews 11 – the “Champions of Faith” chapter. Verses 13-15 make the specific point that these people lived differently (aliens and strangers on earth), which pleased God and earned His reward.

So what does it mean to be different? There are many ways the man of God can be different from the world around him, but I believe the cornerstone of being different is purity. Interestingly enough, Joan of Arc was known for her purity more than anything else. In the words of author Jeff O’Leary, “… one of the most remarkable facets of Joan’s leadership was the power of purity in her character and its effect on those who followed her.” Purity is very powerful and it takes many forms. It is wholehearted devotion to God (Jeremiah 29:13). It is the pursuit of holiness (1 Peter 1:13-17). It is unwavering integrity (Psalm 41:12, Proverbs 13:6). It protects us (1 Timothy 4:16) and guides our thoughts (Philippians 4:8). It requires humility (1 Peter 5:5-6) and the confession of sin (1 John 1:9). It is one of the ways a young person is called to set an example for other believers (1 Timothy 4:12). But most of all, Psalm 51:10-12 (one of my favorite passages in the Bible and frequent prayers) shows us the greatest result of purity: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me to the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” In other words, purity is the difference God uses in a man to lead others to the redeeming love of His son, Jesus Christ.

It should be obvious by now that godly leadership requires not just a reluctant willingness to be different, but rather a deep, passionate, fervent desire to be set apart from the world. How many leaders do you know who are the same as everybody around them? None! A leader is someone who is different; someone who stands out in a crowd. Matthew 5:13 says we are to be the “salt of the earth” and that “if the salt loses its saltiness … it is no longer good for anything.” If you understand the characteristics of salt, then you should also understand the powerful implications of that verse. When salt is added to something else it doesn’t change. The thing to which it is added to changes. God wants us to be different from the world so that He can use us to change the world. Building a relationship with a non-believer is not about trying to establish common bonds with them. It is about living life with them and loving them without being like them. Why would a person who is genuinely trying to fill the God-shaped hole in his heart be drawn to someone who is like him if he already knows he is lacking? He is not searching for what he already has. He is searching for something different. Moreover, if we are like the world and share their perspective, how will we be able to recognize their pain, emptiness and need for a savior? Young men, I implore you, take a moment to look up 2 Timothy 2:15. Study it and take it to heart. Seek only God’s approval. Do not be ashamed to be different. Pursue purity. Measure yourself according to God’s truth and nothing else. If you do, I am absolutely confident God will use you to lead the way in the lives of others and make a difference for Him.

Mike McFarland
Challenge Guest Director

SACRIFICE, SERVICE, and DUTY

"I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;" 2 Corinthians 12:15. Close your eyes with me and imagine if you will the heat coming from your feet. Your feet groan and gasp for fresh air as the throb for more blood to flow through them. You rub at your feet through your boots. Your boots are hot and wet with sweat. You and fifty other recruits have just finished a five-mile forced march a Challenge. John over there fell behind constantly. Dexter …more about characteristics of the group… Which of these men will you pick to associate with? Why? Which of these will you shy away from? Why? God has done all He can to wash our selfishness away and make our hearts yearn to deliberately identify with Jesus Christ's interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every one of these men. We have no right to be guided by the things that we like; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. It is not about you or me. John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Take some time right now and transition away from the thought of death as associated with this verse. When you read “lay down his life” think “give up his desires” or “let go of his plans”. You and I need to get to a spiritually mature place in life where we can sacrifice all. I don’t mean to fling my life away, but deliberately lay my selfish desires aside for the good of others around me. I need to lay out my life for Jesus to use as He sees fit. Jesus has interest in other people. Hmmm, Jesus is interested in people, not causes. Let’s you and I plan to win people to Jesus not to us. I challenge you to make yourself of use to your fellow men. Do what it takes to get off of any pedestals. Be with the common men. Became a sacramental personality; wherever you go, ensure Jesus Christ can help Himself to your life.
Many of us invest our lives engaged in activities that will get us where we want to go, make us who we want to be. Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. I challenge you to (and I will do it too) abandon your self to Jesus. If we can do this then we will have no ends of our own to serve. I want the backbone of our individual lives to be devotion to Jesus. Did you do the word study on “devote”? Did you find that it means irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the LORD, often by totally destroying them? We are inclined to be devoted. Unfortunately our inclination is not to Jesus Christ, but rather to things which distract us from our spiritual maturity. I remember when I was a little tike in grade school. My best friend, Sean Trapani, and I were bullied on the playground after recess. The leader of the gang told us he would kill us if we mentioned this to anyone. I vowed, with my best friend in the whole world, to take that risk and turn the bullies in to the principal. At the risk of death Sean and I went to the principal’s office and did our deed. We were devoted to each other. What a dynamic duo, we were. Wild? Extravagant? When a man is devoted or committed, it is not unheard of to live this way. Let’s be devoted to Jesus Christ and the things or people He is interested in.
So that is it for the sacrifice. Let’s deal with the service. The second part of our opening scripture verse is "Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 2 Corinthians 12:15. Natural devotion expects some return, but I challenge you to not care whether you get love in return or not, be willing to empty yourself completely, so that that you can get others to God. 2 Corinthians 8:9 reminds us, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Have the mindset, “I do not care what it costs. I will spend myself, and I will do it gladly”.
I always thought that the world prodigal meant returning. You know the story of the “prodigal son”. He came home after he failed miserably. Well I was wrong. Check it out. Prodigal means giving out in great abundance, threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources. That makes sense for the story. It also makes me think that I want to be a prodigal son. An heir of God’s throne who spends everything on the ones that God cares about. Jesus Christ's idea of service is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. So go ahead and preach the gospel, but don’t forget to wash feet. Do the things that natural man does not value. Use God’s value system. Count it all joy to spend yourself out for God's interests in other people. Shake the natural or carnal economical notions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary? What are the conditions like? What is in it for me?" These questions are an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. Remember…No reserve, No regret, and No retreat. Focus on Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint, i.e. not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives. This idea brings to my mind the story of a group of men whose motto is “that others may live”. They are the pararescue or PJ (parachute jumper). Two U.S. pilots crashed in combat. The rescue helicopters were launched to recover the crashed pilots. PJ#2 was on the low bird. The downed pilots made their way to a useable LZ and the rescue birds landed near them. PJ#1 ran down to them to make sure that they were OK and that they could get to the rescue chopper. PJ#2 grabbed an M-60 machinegun and left the aircraft to get in a defensive position so that he could hold off the enemy that were moving into the area. After the survivors hopped on board, the PJ#1 covered PJ#2 who was now making his way back to the aircraft. All of this time, they were being shot at. Wow, let us sacrifice our comfort and safety for the souls that Jesus cares for.
John 16:32 shares a sad concept. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” Many a Christian worker has left Jesus Christ alone and gone into the work place from a sense of duty, or a sense of need. This behavior arises out of man made discernment. Protect yourself young man from being enticed away from the life giving power of Jesus. The soul can grow out of intimate contact with God by leaning to its own understanding. There is no sin in it, and no punishment attached to it; but when the one realizes how he has held back his understanding of Jesus Christ, and produced for himself perplexities and sorrows and difficulties, it is with shame and great loss he has to come back. Don’t allow yourself to go away in the first place. Stay intimate with God. Seek His face, His presence, His being. Do not seek His hand, His ability to give to you, His possessions.
Be where God is. Look to see where He is blessing in your life and stay there. Do not go somewhere and ask to be blessed. We need to rely on our life-producing power of God much deeper than we do. We need to live a life that constantly refers all decisions back to God and His will, His domain. Instead, many of us make our natural-minded decisions and ask God to bless them. He cannot, it is not in His domain, and it is severed from reality. We are protected when we are in God’s domain. So service vice duty. If we do a thing from a sense of duty, we are acting in competition with Jesus Christ. We have the character that says; "Now in this matter I must do this and that." We have put our sense of duty on the throne instead of the life giving power of Jesus. We are not told to walk in the light of conscience or of a sense of duty. Isaiah 50:11 warns us, But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment. We are to walk in the light as God is in the light. When we do anything from a sense of duty, we can back it up by argument; when we do anything in obedience to the Lord; there is no argument possible.

Your Prodigal Brother
Bruce Stansbury
2010 Challenge Program Director

Strength & Honor: Character Lessons of Centurion Leadership

“Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.”-- Maximus Decimus Meridius

“I believe that character reaps destinies.” -- Colonel Jeff O’Leary (Ret.)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24


In 2000, the movie Gladiator won five Academy Awards. It is easy to understand why, as it is the story of an unselfish, courageous leader who led by example, fought to triumph good over evil and stood firm to the end in the face of overwhelming odds. The hero of the movie was Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman Centurion. Before each battle Maximus would say to his fellow warriors, “Strength and honor.” These words were the oath of Centurion and represented the ideal to which every Roman Centurion adhered. They also hold important character lessons and represent an important model for godly leadership.

To fully appreciate the ideals of “strength and honor,” it is necessary to understand what it meant to be a Roman Centurion. The Centurion was not your standard soldier or “legionnaire.” Rather, a Centurion was a leader in charge of 100 men. In his book, The Centurion Principles, author Colonel Jeff O’Leary (Ret.) describes a Centurion:

A battle-hardened legionnaire was promoted to the rank of Centurion based on at least sixteen years of combat service and valor at the point of the spear. He was able to carry ninety pounds of equipment at least twenty miles per day and train under the harshest of conditions. The Centurion was required to equip himself at his own expense and pay for his own food, clothing, bedding, boots, arms, armor, and pay dues to the burial club. He was a skilled engineer and builder in addition to being the finest combat soldier. He held ultimate sway over the welfare of every man who served in his hundred-man century. The enlistment period was for twenty-five years, after which a cash payment and small plot of land were provided (unless the treasury was short of cash, in which case, commitment to service was involuntarily extended)… To rise to Centurion was considered the highest honor a legionnaire could attain. The Centurion always led his troops from the front.

As you can see, there was no easy way to become a Centurion. It was not a position of appointment and could not be purchased. It required complete and total dedication to a singular purpose, seasoned by harsh, brutal experience over a long period of time. It is also an excellent model for the character Christ desires in a man, because it addresses the “how and why” of Godly leadership. For that reason, it is beneficial to take a closer look at the “strength” (how) and “honor” (why) of a Centurion.

There are many different aspects pertaining to the “strength” of a leader. However, the aspect I want to focus on is strength of character. In my last blog post, I talked about the importance of developing mental toughness in order to endure hardship. This time, I want to examine the role faith plays in maintaining strength of character. 1 Corinthians 16:13 states, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” This verse could easily be part of a Centurion’s order to his men before a battle and it effectively and succinctly summarizes the meaning of strength in the Centurion oath. The first time I studied it, however, one phrase stood out more than the others: stand firm in the faith. It begged the questions, “What does it mean to “stand firm” and how does that apply to faith?

There are many definitions for the phrase “stand firm,” but the following five seemed especially relevant: 1. Refusal to abandon one’s opinion or belief. 2. Not wavering in the face of fear or hardship. 3. Possessing fortitude (Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain with adversity or courage) and perseverance. 4. Refuse to back down; remain solid under criticism or attack. 5. Be steadfast or upright. All of these are attributes any man would desire for himself. As for the definition of faith, one needs only to look up Hebrews 11:1-2, which states, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” If these definitions of “stand firm” are applied to the Biblical definition of faith, then the picture becomes clear. Just as the Centurion was expected to persevere until the enemy was vanquished, “standing firm in the faith” means the man of God must maintain trust in our Heavenly Father and finish the mission regardless of the pain or perceived impossibility of the situation. In short, it is an unyielding confidence in the omnipotence of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Ironically, in Matthew 8:8-10, the Bible even uses a Roman Centurion to illustrate this truth. I do not think that is coincidence. Finally, the need for unwavering faith further reinforced by Hebrews 10:37-39, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. “ How is Centurion strength of character attained? It is attained by learning to stand firm in your faith in God.

Nehemiah chapter 7 is a good place to begin examining the honor of a Centurion. The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and it was time for Nehemiah to appoint leaders over the city. One of the men he chose to lead was Hananiah. The Bible says that Hananiah was chosen specifically because “… he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.” In other words, Hananiah was chosen because he understood the meaning of honor. When used as a noun, honor is our reputation. It is our character, as seen or judged by others. Nehemiah also understood that men who have a reputation of integrity and purity of character have the ability to powerfully motivate those under their care. This is especially true for leaders, whose conduct (especially during times of difficulty and stress) speaks volumes about their character. When a godly man is appointed to a position of leadership, God uses him to affect the lives of others and speaks through him to accomplish His purpose.

Honor is not just a noun. It is also a verb. When used as a verb, honor is the respect or reverence we have for another. That is what is meant by Hananiah’s fear of God. To honor God is to revere Him; to have a profound, adoring, awed respect for Him. The Roman Centurion also understood this concept. Why did he adhere to uncompromising ideals? Not just because his personal reputation was at stake but, more importantly, to show honor to his emperor. As men of God in positions of leadership over others, we must also understand this. In the words of author Jeff O’Leary, “We who lead are reminded that we are responsible to more than earthly authority when we are placed in leadership over others.” We must never forget that Christ alone is the source of our strength and that we must strive to honor Him in everything we do and say. As the Bible says in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. “ That, more than anything else, is why the man of God must possess character that demonstrates the honor of a Centurion.

Right about now, the enemy might be trying to convince you that you do not have what it takes to develop the character of a Centurion. That is a lie. The truth is that Satan knows God uses righteous men to lead the way here on earth. Satan also knows that God doesn’t need men who are skilled at many things. Rather, He looks for men of integrity, who fear Him and are willing to go when sent. If a man possesses those qualities, God will provide him with the additional training and skill necessary to complete the mission. As Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, so eloquently puts it,

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

Young men, take 1 Corinthians 16:13 to heart. Strive to live your life in service to the Lord Jesus Christ with the strength and honor of a Centurion.

Mike McFarland
Guest Director

SPIRITUAL TENACITY

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. Oh boy have I had to live this verse over the past weeks.

Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that we will find what we are looking for. Tenacity is more than hanging on. Being too afraid to fall off may produce “hanging on”. Tenacity is the supreme effort of a man refusing to believe that his hero, Jesus Christ, is going to be conquered. The greatest fear a man has is not that he will be damned, but that Jesus Christ will be undone. The greatest fear is that the things Christ stood for - love and justice and forgiveness and kindness among men - will not win out in the end. Then comes the call to spiritual tenacity, not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately on the certainty that God is not going to be overthrown. God watches over His word to perform it.

If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being changed or altered to please God. God will answer your prayer better than you can think or imagine. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God. "Because you have kept the word of my patience." Revelation 3:10

To help in your willingness to be tenacious, dwell on this fact. The mainspring of Paul's service is not love for men, but love for Jesus Christ. If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted, for we shall undoubtedly meet with the ingratitude of men. If, however, our motive is love to God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men. Notice the ingratitude is still there. It is a fact of life. However, the difference is the focus, the motive, the target. Our devotion must be to God.

Paul's realization of how Jesus Christ had dealt with him is the secret of his determination to serve others. Paul says a few words to the effect of…"I was before a perjurer, a blasphemer, an injurious person"…no matter how men may treat me, they will never treat me with the spite and hatred with which I treated Jesus Christ. Realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin. Now, no meanness exacted upon us by man can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.

Remain spiritually tenacious.

With this thought in mind I want you to think with me about your passions, your drive, your goal. What engulfs your mind and energies to the point of being carried away? Have you ever been carried away for God? "She has created a good work on Me." Mark 14:6

God deserves a passion, a relationship with you that is beyond human love. If what you are experiencing with God come natural to you, I recommend you step it up a notch. God desires the super-natural with you. If you find yourself always in control, knowing what is coming, always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, you are not in love with God. You may be in “affection” with Him. Dare to be beyond yourself with God.

Ask yourself, as I do, have I ever sensed a desire to do something for God besides the things that are my duty? Do I do things for God besides the things that are useful? We have to get rid of this notion - "Am I of any use?" and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Have I ever realized that I can bring to God things that are of value to Him? In the middle of a hectic day with all sorts of practical things that need doing, can I daydream about the magnitude of His Redemption? Do I realize that there are things that I can do, not divine things, not colossal things which could be recorded as marvelous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that I am abandoned to Him? Have I ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced?

"Then Peter began to say unto Him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee. . . ." Mark 10:28

God wants you to know that abandonment is for Himself, and not for what you will get from it. Beware of an abandonment which has the commercial spirit in it. Clear yourself of thoughts like, "I am going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." The result of being right with God is great, but that spirit of trade or barter is not of the essential nature of Christianity. Abandonment is not for anything at all. We have got so commercialized that we only go to God for something from Him, and not for Himself. It is like saying, "No, Lord, I don't want you, I want myself; but I want myself clean and holy; I want to be put in your show room and be able to say - 'This is what God has done for me.'" If the only reason we give up something to God is because we want more back, then there is nothing right in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest.

Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin. The salvation of God is deliverance out of self. Furthermore, if out of self then into union with Himself. In our abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave Himself for us, without any hidden agenda. If we truly live our life as taken up with God, then the consequence of abandonment never enters into our outlook.

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him the abandoned gestures of how genuinely we do love Him. Being abandoned to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses the eye on our own goodness; there is a trap. There we can be greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look. We care about what other think and we act fearful lest we offend God. Perfect love casts out all that fear and concern when once we are abandoned to God. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.

Look up the definition of “devotion” Joshua 6:18 with regard to this thought of abandonment. You will find an interesting term meaning to destroy so as to be unrecognizable from the original look or purpose. Now apply that to youself. Are you devoted to Christ?

Enduring Hardship: The Practice of Becoming Mentally Tough

We should remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school.” -- Thucydides

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-- James 1:2-4

Pain. That is an unpopular word. For most people, the preferred method of dealing with pain is to numb it or, better yet, avoid it altogether. However, simply numbing or avoiding pain does not address the cause of it. Typically, pain avoidance only makes the situation worse. That is because the purpose of pain is to call our attention to a problem or weakness. Pain is not meant to be numbed or ignored, it is meant to be dealt with. In life, pain is often caused by hardship. God doesn’t tell us to ignore hardship or run from it. He tells us to endure it (2 Timothy 2:3). According to Webster’s dictionary, "endure" is defined as “To undergo without giving in” and “To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding.” God tell us to endure hardship because He knows that, as followers of Christ, we will encounter it often in this life (John 15:20, 2 Timothy 3:12). Hardship is also the context God most often uses to make a man. Therefore, as men of God, we must learn to accept hardship willingly and recognize it as a tool God is using to bring us into our fullness – “…mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” How do we learn to endure hardship? We learn to endure hardship by practicing mental toughness.

When someone says “He’s tough” the picture that comes to mind for many people probably resembles Rocky Balboa in the final fight scene of the movie Rocky. Indeed, Sylvester Stallone’s character was physically tough. Indeed, it is also important for us to be able to endure physically. However, I believe mental toughness is far more valuable than physical toughness. Consider 1Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” This verse makes a clear distinction between physical training and godliness, with the latter being a mindset; a consistent practice of mental toughness. In 2 Timothy 4:5, Paul says, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship …” Once again, there is a direct connection between mental toughness and enduring hardship. Ask any Special Operations soldier and they will tell you that a trained mind is the key to enduring stress and hardship. Perhaps that is because God intended it to be that way. But how is mental toughness developed?

The first step in developing mental toughness is to practice self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." That is one of my favorite verses in the Bible because I deeply believe that it defines our identity as men of God. I also believe it holds a powerful key to developing mental toughness. That key is self-discipline. God makes it clear in His word that we must live by faith if we want to please Him (Hebrews 10:34). To be faithful, we must learn to be consistent. To be consistent we need to build self-discipline. To build self-discipline we must learn to endure hardship. Enduring hardship requires training. Being trained is different than being taught. Being taught is a solitary act. Training, however, involves taking what you have been taught and doing it; practicing it again and again. Practice something long enough and it becomes reflex. Nobody can do that for you. You and you alone must choose to train, to practice self-discipline. It will not be easy. In the words of one U.S. Marine Corps. OCS instructor, “You need discipline most when it is hardest to muster – when you’re tired, hungry and outside your comfort zone.” However, it will be worth it. Self-discipline will protect you. Without self-discipline it is impossible to endure hardship.

A second way to practice mental toughness is to be optimistic during hardship. God tells us to be so in His word (Joshua 1:9, Psalm 31:24). In fact, I think optimism is a core tenet of faith itself. I love the simplicity of the Webster’s Dictionary definition of optimistic: Expecting the best. Think about that. As believers, we have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the Lord of Lord, the King of Kings. A relationship which is so intimate and loving that He calls us His children and sent His own son to be crucified on a cross so that we might be able to spend eternity in paradise with Him! With God as our father, how could we ever be anything less than optimistic?! Yet, optimism during times of hardship is extremely elusive for most people and most of us spend time fighting off discouragement (the opposite of optimism). Even Joshua, a great warrior of God and the person God chose to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, got discouraged. So much so that God told him to “be strong and courageous” twelve different times. I think it is so difficult to be optimistic because our enemy – the devil – knows just how powerful optimism is and works hard to undermine that attitude in us. I am not exaggerating about the power of being optimistic. It was even emphasized during my wilderness survival training, when we were required to memorize the seven priorities of survival. What was the top priority? Positive mental attitude. It is that important.

In order to develop an optimistic attitude and guard against discouragement during times of hardship, it is important for us to realize that feelings are not fact. As with self-discipline, being optimistic is toughest when a person is under great stress. Our feelings will often work against us. Remember, being strong and feeling strong don’t always happen simultaneously. Being optimistic helps us to act with strength when we feel weak and be certain during times of uncertainty. Developing a strong mind is the key to this. We strengthen our minds by storing up God’s promises in our hearts so that we can draw on His power, strength and encouragement in the midst of hardship. The following verses are excellent sources resources to help us be optimistic: Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:28-31, Matthew 19:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 4:13 and Philippians 4:19. Start memorizing them now and they will be there to see you through when the going gets tough.

A third way to practice being mentally tough is to stay focused on the mission at hand. Jesus demonstrated this for us in Matthew 20:17-34. This passage begins when Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem with His disciples and had just told them that He was going to be beaten, flogged and crucified. Yet, in the next verse, He stops to allow a woman to ask him a favor. He then uses it as an opportunity to teach his disciples a leadership lesson. Soon after, He is stops again to heal two blind men. Think about the significance of this. Jesus was walking to His death and He knew it. Yet, He continued to focus on the mission at hand – putting others ahead of Himself, their interests ahead of His own and not acting selfishly. Talk about mental toughness! We should strive to achieve that same level of focus when God gives us a mission. A man of God should never allow the unforeseen circumstances of hardship to cause him to pause. Either he trusts God or he doesn’t. There is no middle ground. We must learn not to waiver just because we feel unprepared for what lies ahead. We must not try to look at God from the middle of difficult circumstances. If we do, we become “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). Rather, let us set our faces like flint (Isaiah 50:7) and focus on the mission at hand with a mental toughness that knows for certain God has forever demonstrated His absolute love for us on the cross and that He will never leave us or forsake us.

There is no doubt that learning to endure hardship – becoming mentally tough – is a long, difficult process. God intended it to be that way. He is treating us as sons (Hebrews 12:7), teaching us to obey Him (Psalm 119: 67-68, 71) and doing what is best for us (Hebrews 12:10). He does not want us to have an easy, convenient life because He knows that we will forget him if we do. He also knows that the more we hurt, the more we will be driven to Him and rely upon His strength and his strength alone. The Psalms show us that King David, a man after God’s own heart, was intimately familiar with this. In fact, he was desperate for God. Oh, that we might learn to be desperate for the love of our Heavenly Father! Young men, I beg you to heed my words: Enduring hardship is never easy, but always worth it. Learn to become comfortable with discomfort. When you find yourself in a tough, painful situation, don’t focus on finding a way out. Focus on learning the lessons God has for you to learn and trusting Him to provide you with the strength to persevere so that you may become “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” As the saying goes, “There are two types of pain in this world: The temporary pain of discipline, or the permanent pain of regret.” The first is a blessing from God. The second is something He never intended for you to feel. Practice mental toughness. It is an essential element of godly manhood.

Mike McFarland
Guest Director

Update

Hey Y'all
Shelby is much better. She was in and out of the hospital in under 48 hrs.Our God is Faithful do do all we have asked him I talked to her the day after the accident and she was very perky, and happy, but still hurting. After the horse tripped and fell into the ditch they slid about 24 feet so she has BAD road rash all up her right arm and a little bit on her face. But she said to thank you for all the prayers and thoughts.
Officer Phillips
Semper Fi.

LIMITATIONS OF THE POSSIBLE

"Arise, shine." Isaiah 60:1 (Let God Change you)
Immediate action drills (IADs) are a standard procedure to be carried out in the event of something going wrong (such as an ambush, weapon misfire, equipment malfunction, etc.). If performed immediately, can make a significant difference in the outcome of a life-threatening incident. I remember jumping from an aircraft at 800 ft off the ground. At that altitude (or lack thereof) there is little room for error in checking your canopy and ensuring your posture is correct for the parachute landing fall. On this particular day my ranger buddy had a malfunction with his main chute. He immediately deployed his reserve and worked his process all the way to the ground. Once on the ground he immediately put his weapon into action and went about performing his portion of the mission. Having practiced the IADs in peacetime, he was able to perform with confidence and efficiency in a stressful situation. Think bout how Jesus felt as he descended into hell after he died on the cross. What where his last words? God had forsaken him and yet he carried on his mission. We have to take the next step as though there were no God. It is no use to wait for God to help us, He will not; but immediately when we do arise we find He is there. We must do the thing and not lie like a log. If we will arise and shine, doing the utterly mean grubby things of life becomes divinely transfigured. Read John 13. We see there the Incarnate God doing the most desperate piece of drudgery, washing fishermen's feet, and He says - "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet." Some people do a certain thing and the way in which they do it hallows that thing for ever afterwards. It may be the most commonplace thing, but after we have seen them do it, it becomes different. When the Lord does a thing through us, He always transfigures it. Our Lord took on Him our human flesh and transfigured it, and it has become for every saint the temple of the Holy Ghost. So live your life not like everyone else does…let God transfigure it and let His light shine before all men. Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character there is and when we come in contact with them we know instantly whether or not we are spiritually real.

"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19 (Grow in His direction)
That previous paragraph talks about being changed. Why should we change? What will happen if we do not change? What is wrong with the way we are? God has a plan for you and he know who you need to be in order for that plan to succeed. He knows the troubles ahead and the immediate actions you need to take in order to avoid tham. Are you training for those drills? Are you allowing to change your mindset? We have to form the mind of Christ. "Acquire your soul with patience." Many of us prefer to stay at the threshold of the Christian life instead of going on to construct a soul in accordance with the new life God has put within. We fail because we are ignorant of the way we are made, we blame events on the devil instead of our own undisciplined natures. Think what we can be when we are roused! We all know James 5:16. Some things need prayer and fasting and counsel…some things merely need to be taken care of…remember the IADs.

There are certain things we must not pray about - moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won't. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual resolution, mettle, boldness, pluck.

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”- Galatians 5:13

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- Romans 15:5-6

"Rise, let us be going." Matthew 26:46
So what happens if we don’t practice our IADs or we aren’t where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there? What if we fail? The disciples went to sleep when they should have kept awake, and when they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair, and we say - "It is all up now, it is no use trying any more." This is a very ordinary human experience. Do realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing. Do not sink into despair. Realize Jesus is saying "Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost for ever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing." I use the term FIDO – Forget It, Drive On! Leave the past mistakes with esus. He will take careof them. Learn from the past and press on toward the future.
There are experiences like this in each of our lives. Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.

I am pleased with our monthly cyber-visits. I am looking forward to your growth with Jesus. He is a good man and a great influence in your life. Be aware the world is trying to bring you back to your once weak self. If you don't give the world some push back, the following may happen. In the name of tolerance, you may settle for a humanistic and "politically correct" theology that trivializes the glory of Jesus.
Pay attention to how "busy" you are. There is a growing crisis in many young Christians across America. Sincere young people are compromising the biblical truths. How is this happening? The young adults are increasing in works of compassion and justice. This in itself is a good thing. However, the work or busy-ness is a desire to fit in. The young adults try to find a place in the world. Without a strong background in bible knowledge the young adults do find their place in this world. They do not realize that they have bent biblical rules or broken spiritual boundaries in the process. The result is spiritual compromises. In the name of tolerance, they are settling for a humanistic and "politically correct" theology. This weakened spiritual life trivializes the glory of Jesus. Many young adults are falling prey to this as they seek “relevance” that dulls the razor’s edge of truth for the sake of man’s approval. It is not enough to mention Jesus’ name if they deny foundational truths about Him. Our works of justice must flow from deep allegiance to Jesus and the Scripture.

Know that Gods hand is upon you. His hands lead and guide you into your future. He desires to go ahead of you to prepare the way for you. Rest assured in that knowledge. Remember to seek first the kingdom of God. After that God will find your place in this world. God knows your future (Jer 29:11). He has a plan. Spend time with Him. Do not worry about fitting in with the world. As you grow in knowledge of God, He will make your paths straight. As you grow in a serious relationship with God, He will introduce you to His friends and family. As you get to know who God is and what He likes, you will make choices that please Him. Spend time with God. With a sense of purpose, grow and grow and grow until you are intimately engaged with God’s direction.

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead." Revelation 1:17

Sooner than you think, it may be that like the apostle John you know Jesus Christ intimately, when suddenly He appears with no familiar characteristic at all, and the only thing you can do is to fall at His feet as dead. There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awfulness of the vision which brings you to the realization of you desperateness; if you are ever to be raised up, it must be by the hand of God. "He laid His right hand upon me." In the midst of the awfulness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. The right hand not of restraint nor of correction nor of chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it is unbelievable peace and comfort, the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms," full of sustaining and comfort and strength. When once His touch comes, nothing at all can cast you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, and to say - "Fear not." His tenderness is indescribably sweet. Do you know Him like that? I pray for you in order that you will desire this relationship. God can do nothing for you until you get to the limit of the possible.

Watch some of the things that strike despair. There is despair in which there is no delight, no horizon, no hope of anything brighter; but the delight of despair comes when I know that "in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing." I delight to know that there is that in me which must fall prostrate before God when He manifests Himself.

Men Guard yourself from emotional immaturity. Stay focused on your God and Your tasks. He is an awesome God. Get to know Him

Bruce Stansbury
Challenge Program Director

Prayer!!!

Hey yall,
My friend Shelby was riding horses with her friends and they decided to race. She tried to pass the others on the right but her and her horse ended up in a 3 foot deep irrigation ditch. She is in St. Joe's hospital with a concussion, memory loss and a torn/bruised lung. She is only 13 and like a little sister to me. Please pray for complete recovery and strength for her and her family. She has 4 sisters (one older three younger)and 4 year old brother. I have faith that the Our Father in Heaven will take care of her.

Believing in the Power of Prayer,
(former)Officer Phillips

FAILURE IS NOT FINAL

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. -- Deuteronomy 8:2-3

At the end of CST, everyone on Challenge staff agreed that one of the most difficult parts for us was choosing which candidates would not be offered officer positions for Challenge 2010. I find no joy in telling someone that they failed to achieve their goal. Perhaps that is because I know full well what it feels like to fail. I have failed many times at many things in my life. It is always painful – sometimes, very much so. The devil wants our failures to define us. He wants us to believe the lie that our failures are final. The truth of the matter is that failure is often the beginning of something awesome Christ is accomplishing in our lives. He frequently uses failure to mold us into the men of God and leaders of men that He wants us to be and as a means of bringing us into the fullness of life He intends for us.

Human beings have a tendency to give ourselves way too much credit for what happens to us. We also have a strong propensity to wrongly evaluate why things happen to us. This is especially true when it comes to failure. We tend to see failure as a curse. Yet, God regularly disguises blessings as curses. Consider the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2-18. Moses is addressing them right before they enter the Promised Land. He is instructing them to not to forget what they learned during their time in the wilderness, when God allowed them to fail repeatedly. In fact, their journey was an exercise in failure everyday for 40 years, because they were not ready for what He had in store for them. If they had been allowed to travel directly from Egypt to the Promised Land, instead of being forced to wander in the wilderness, the journey would’ve only taken 11 days. Talk about a complete failure! The Lord had much to teach them. Yet, verse 16 says that He used their time in the wilderness “so that in the end it would go well with them.” In other words, He was using failure to bless them. In that same way, God uses failure to bless us. This passage uses the lives and experiences of the Israelites as an example for us today to demonstrate several reasons why God uses failure to develop our character.

1. God uses failure to rid us of pride and teach us humility. On 18 different occasions, the Bible refers to the Israelite people as “stiff-necked.” Deuteronomy 9:7 even says they were rebellious against God every day they were in the wilderness. That is a lot of pride! Deuteronomy 8:2 shows the first reason God allowed His people to fail was to humble them. Humbleness is mentioned two more times throughout the passage. In the book of Proverbs, the need for humility is mentioned on three different occasions (11:2, 15:33, 18:12). Do you think God is trying to tell us something? In the words of Ron Dunn, a pastor I have learned much from, “You will never trust God until you have to. It is man’s nature to be independent and rely on our own means.” Young men, heed a warning I have had to learn the hard way: If you want to realize the purpose Christ has for you in this world, you must first purge yourself of pride and self-sufficiency. Otherwise, you may find yourself failing again and again until you do.

2. God uses failure to show us the deceptiveness, sinfulness and weakness of our heart. Jeremiah 17:9-10 says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” God knew that the Israelites’ faith was not genuine and that it needed refined before they could enter the Promised Land. He wants us to understand the same thing about ourselves. To become full men of God we need to be refined by Him. That is the only way He can eliminate sin from our lives and make us dependent upon Him (Jeremiah 17:9, Zechariah 13:9). Unfortunately, refinement is a painful process. The Bible illustrates this by consistently using the phrase “refine them like silver.” Did you know that silver ore must be heated to 1,200 degrees Celsius in order to be refined into pure silver? That is a lot of heat! Failure is part of the refinement process. So expect to endure extreme discomfort as you become men of God. Every other man God chose to use mightily did. We, too, must learn to welcome failure as part of the refinement process and know that it is a “trial by fire” Christ uses to bring us into full godly manhood.

3. God uses failure to teach us that He alone is the source of our strength and life. Most everyone familiar with the Bible knows about the manna God provided the Israelites each day they were in the wilderness. This bread of heaven was a perfect food, meeting all of their nutritional needs. However, there is something else here that many of us fail to see. Take another look at Deuteronomy 8:3. God makes a point of saying that he caused them to hunger BEFORE he mentions feeding them. In other words, the God who feeds us is the same God who makes us hungry. Why would He do that? Because Christ wants us to realize we cannot do ANYTHING without Him! He is a jealous God and wants us to know beyond a shadow of doubt that He alone is the source of our strength and that we have a great need for Him. In Psalm 142, David says he is DESPERATE for God. That is a powerful word! Do you want God’s provision that much? Is your need for Him so great that you are desperate? For most of us, the answer is “no.” Therefore, God allows us to fail. He will let us continue in failure until we want Him so badly that we are willing to do WHATEVER He says and trust Him in ANY situation…until we cry out in desperation, “LORD PLEASE FEED ME!” And then He shows up. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” If God does not let us suffer failure we will never learn to fight hard enough or endure hardship long enough to truly seek Him with our whole heart.

4. God uses failure to enable us to empathize with others when they are in the midst of failure. I believe this is especially true if we are to be used as leaders , responsible for others under our care. At CST, I defined a godly leader as, “Someone who puts others ahead of himself, their interests ahead of his own and never acts selfishly. One who has the attitude of a servant and leads by example.” This is very easy to say… and very tough to live out. Therefore, God allows us to fail miserably in order to understand this concept intimately. He did this in one way or another with all of the great leaders in the Bible – David, Peter, Paul -- even Jesus (Isaiah 53). He spells it out again in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” In the same way that training is about the people rather than the mission, so is leadership about knowing your men and looking out for their welfare. We cannot adequately understand another’s welfare until we ourselves have endured the pain of failure.

In conclusion, we need to understand that we will likely fail many times over in this life. This is not only normal, but also healthy. Failure is a tool God has used throughout the ages to mold men into His image. Just like the Israelites, every key leadership figure in the Bible had a wilderness experience. You will, too, if you desire to be used by God. Failure not only refines us, it helps us examine our lives. This “self-assessment” is essential to our character development because an unexamined life leads to great sin, which is inevitably followed by unnecessary hardship, pain and regret. Lastly, remember that failure is not final. It is merely a part of our transition into full godly manhood and servant leadership as Christ continues to accomplish His purpose in our lives (Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:28).

Hold the line ye future men of God!

Mike McFarland
2010 Guest Director

God Worthy

"We all with open face beholding . . . the glory of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Last weekend at CST we spoke often about role models. Many of the role models we spoke of were human. Humans break, grow old, or change. Sometimes we are disheartened, left looking for a new role to follow. Sometimes (by design) we are left as they role model. A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone. We have to get so used to it that we never know we are standing alone. "All men forsook me…notwithstanding the Lord stood with me" (2 Tim. 4:16-17). We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails. When "big" men go we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, the one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves. Take care to cultivate your relationship with God. Seek His face (His character) not His hands (what He can do for you). Allow nothing to keep you from looking God sternly in the face about yourself and about your doctrine, and every time you study, teach, or experience see that you look God in the face about things first, then the glory will remain all through. A Christian worker is one who perpetually looks in the face of God and then goes forth to talk to people. The characteristic of Christ’s ministry for which we are looking is the long-lasting glory. Keep in tune with God all the time.

How do I apply this? Check your passions. What drives you? "Wherefore we labor that…we may be accepted of Him." 2 Corinthians 5:9 It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front. In other words we must keep the main thing the main thing. Hold yourself to the high ideal year in and year out. What is the high ideal? Is it winning souls or establishing churches or having revivals. NAY! You must appreciate being "accepted of Him." It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of laboring to keep the ideal right. So here is your homework. Once a week, take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. As Challenge needs squad officers who do not need the approval of the recruits if he can catch the look of approval from the First Officer. So God needs Christian men who need no appreciation from this world if we can catch a glimpse of a boastful God.

Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being "approved unto God" may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says - "Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it into subjection and keep it under." (1 Cor. 9:27.) I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?

After you have examined yourself the test will come in the form of everyday life. The test will be the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings. "Though it tarry, wait for it." We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. Living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit. It is essential to practice the walk of the feet in the light of the vision. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose imagination is stayed on Thee." Isaiah 26:3 Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? The starvation of the mind is a source of exhaustion in a worker's life. If you have never used your mind to put yourself before God, begin to do it now. It is no use waiting for God to come; you must put your mind away from the face of idols and look unto Him and be saved. The mind is the greatest gift God has given us and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. If you have been bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, it will be one of the greatest assets to faith when the time of trial comes, because your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. Learn to meditate on ideas worthy of God and your mind will never be at the mercy of your impulses, but will always be at the service of God. "We have sinned and fallen short, we have forgotten" - then put a boot knife to the throat of the thing that has lulled you to sleep. "God is not talking to me just now," but He ought to be. Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Provoke yourself by recollection and your affection for God will increase tenfold; your mind will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.

Men, Keep your mind fixed on Christ. Wait for the vision God is sharing with you. Stay God’s course. Be concerned with what matters to God.

Your worth to God in public is what you are in private.

Officer Stansbury, Program Director

ENEMY TACTICS

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:8-10

Anyone who has traveled internationally will admit that most Americans have a very easy life. We are surrounded by convenience and comfort, with lots of entertainment options to distract us from the important things in life. Perhaps that is why it is easy for many of us to overlook the fact that there is a war raging all around us. The war I refer to is not in Iraq, Afghanistan or some other third world country. It is one we cannot see but are, nonetheless, caught up in every day of our lives. It is the one against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms that Paul refers to in Ephesians. It is the war that forces every human being to choose sides, with that choice determining where and how they will spend eternity. While the outcome of this war has already been decided and the Lord Jesus Christ the declared the eternal victor, the day that victory will be recognized and the enemy vanquished has not yet arrived. Until that time, the battles rage on. We, as men of God, are called to be warriors in this conflict. Yet, we often behave as if that is not the case. Our enemy, the devil, knows this… and capitalizes on it. He is a master of deception and brilliant tactician, who is filled with fury and highly effective at devouring those caught untrained, unaware or unprepared. Three of his most effective ploys are accusation, deception and isolation. We must learn to recognize and resist these tactics so that we may overcome them through the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:10 calls satan the “accuser of the bretheren” and says that he “accuses them before God day and night.” Think about that. It means that the enemy finds this strategy so effective that he employs it every day. Why is that so? Because he knows that many of us have a difficult time truly accepting Christ’s forgiveness and grace. Also, as Mr. Stansbury pointed out in his last post, many of us have an identity crisis. If we don’t know who we are in Christ, we give the enemy a foothold to undermine us. Consequently, those accusations frequently discourage us and make us want to give up the fight. When that happens, we have become a casualty of war. The enemy has effectively removed us from the fight and we fail to advance the kingdom of God.

Deception is another favorite of the devil. So much so that, in John 8:44, Jesus calls him “the father of lies” and says that deception is his native tongue. Deception is powerful. From the time of Genesis, it has effectively hindered us from understanding God’s truth, deterred us from making good decisions, hampered us from realizing our true strength in Christ and, most of all, kept us from accomplishing the unique mission God has for each of us. When we are lied to, it causes to become distrustful and weakens our faith.

Isolation cuts straight to the core of a man. Loneliness is a very heavy weight. That is why prisons use solitary confinement as punishment. Even snipers and scouts are sent out in teams. The devil knows all of this very well and works hard to jam our communications with each other and with God. When we allow ourselves to become isolated it is easy to lose heart. We cannot encourage each other and, therefore, become susceptible to the enemy’s lies (Hebrews 3:13). When we live alone we fail to sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17). When we keep our sins secret, we cannot prosper or find mercy (Proverbs 28:13). When we do not consistently communicate with God (pray), we are rendered powerless and ineffective (James 5:16). Our relationship with the Father is weakened and we are not able to receive His blessing.

So, how do you defend against these tactics? The bible instructs us in several places. The first step is stated clearly in 1 Corinthians 16:13 and again in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be on your guard” and “Be alert.” In other words, we need to recognize these attacks when they happen. This takes some practice, because these attacks play on our emotions and emotions are powerful. It is very important that we realize feelings are not fact and that we should never make an emotional decision, especially one that is based on worry or fear. The following are examples of a few lies that work especially well with most men: “You are so messed up that God will not forgive you. You are weak and inadequate. You don’t have what it takes. You have no clue what you are doing.” Sound familiar? I bet they do. So much so that just reading those words might even have a physical effect on some of you. At the very least, they can distract us from the truth if we are not prepared and do not recognize them as the lies that they are.

Once we are able to recognize an attack, the next step is to resist. There are several ways to do this. Ephesians 6:13-18 talks about the armor of God. A well-known passage that wonderfully summarizes how we should begin our resistance, it is a picture of a soldier preparing for war (No coincidence, in my opinion). Furthermore, the passage clearly states that the purpose of putting on the armor is to resist the devil’s schemes -- exactly what we are talking about here! Because every piece of armor has a distinct, important purpose and works together to fully protect us, I highly recommend you study the full passage. However, I want to focus on just three components here: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the sword of the spirit.

The belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness are the first parts of the armor mentioned. Think about the purpose of each of these. The belt holds the scabbard for the sword of the spirit (the Bible), as well as the armor for the lower vital areas. The breastplate covers your heart and lungs – the core of your being. To be righteous means to be free from guilt or sin. We have already been made righteous by Christ’s death on the cross. However, I believe this instruction to put on the breastplate of righteousness means we are to obey God. When we are obedient to God’s ways, then the devil has no way to accuse us. Truth exposes lies and the bible (sword of the spirit) shows us the truth. When we practice with our sword (i.e. study the Bible) regularly, then we will know exactly what passages and verses state the truth needed to expose the enemy’s deception. Again, I think it is helpful to provide examples:

ATTACK: “You are so messed up that God will never forgive you.”
DEFENSE: “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

ATTACK: “You are weak and inadequate.”
DEFENSE: “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

ATTACK: “You don’t have what it takes.”
DEFENSE: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

ATTACK: “You have no clue what you are doing.”
DEFENSE: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
“Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Are you starting to understand? As men of God, we must be on our guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). If we rely on the strength of the Lord and the training he provides, we will overcome the evil one. When we learn to identify and expose the enemy’s lies, we can then resist the attack. When we live in community with other believers, pursuing relationships that involve openness, accountability and integrity and don’t allow ourselves to become isolated, then we can also strengthen, encourage and give hope to others when they come under attack. Remember, the enemy only attacks those who are advancing God’s kingdom. If you are making a difference you will take fire. Do not lose heart! Do not be afraid to engage the enemy! James 4:7 specifically says that the devil will flee if we resist him. Young men, I charge you today, LEARN TO RECOGNIZE AND RESIST! LEAD THE WAY! STAND FIRM! FINISH STRONG!

Praise be to Jesus Christ our Master and Commander,

Mike McFarland
Guest Director

Under the Circumstances

Challenge Dads, Specialists, and Recruits,

Welcome to April 2010. I invite you to join the Challenge Blog (http://teenpactchallenge.blogspot.com/). We are gearing up for Challenge 2010. Join us as we ready our spirits,minds, and bodies for an awesome season. Don't forget to register and be a part of the 2010 Father-Son Marksmanship Camp. See the blog or go to http://www.eventsbot.com/events/eb631749323 for details.

Under the Circumstances

Ever caught yourself saying, "I am fine, under the circumstances"? Well, what are you doing under there? Jude verse 24…God is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. Notice that God is doing all the action here. He is able, He keeps you, He presents you. Get out of His way and let Him have His way. If we will do these things then we will be able to say…"Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37) Read the surrounding verses. At Challenge we ask the question, Who are you? We also have recently added the question "whose are you"? Here in Romans is a more full answer. There is power for us if we would just tap into it. So many of us have an identity crisis. Here is our identity. This is who we are or at least who God intends us to be.

Consider the surfer. The ominous wave that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surfer the exhilaration of going clean through the pipeline. Apply that to your own circumstances, these very things - tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us this super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. The saint knows the joy of the Lord because of tribulation, not in the escape from it. - "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation," says Paul.

You have heard me say, ‘Like Ester, you are where you are, when you are, and who you are for a reason.’ If this is true then God is ready willing and able to use you…NOW! But don’t’ take my word for it. Find some confirmation. By listening to His servants only, we demonstrate how little we trust God. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we fear or doubt God Himself should speak to us. Why are we so terrified? Perhaps because we realize that when God speaks, one of two things must happen. One - we must do the thing we hear, for God is not a man that He should lie. Two - we must tell God we will not obey Him. On the other hand, if we only listen to man, we have the prerogative to believe the word or deed is not imperative. Mans word or deed could simply be just that, "your own idea". Do not shy away from God’s truth. So find the confirmation of my words to you in Ester. God's word to you.

Are you ready? Here’s some practical advice. Listen to God. Do it innocently like Samuel. "Speak; for thy servant hears." (1 Samuel 3:10) In addition to listening innocently, listen often. We men have a tendency to take one victory and assume that we can do the rest on our own. Stay in close relationship with God. I show God that I neither love nor respect Him by my indiscernible heart and mind towards what He says. Have you disobeyed your LORD this week? If you had realized a command came form Jesus, you would not have consciously disobeyed it; but most of us show such disrespect to God that we do not even hear what He says. He speaks to you through your parents, your pastor, your Bible reading times, your prayer life. Listen. I encourage you to stop missing the mark.

In a future letter I will speak to you about a Righteous Revolution. This letter will speak about a need to be bold, and impact this world…turn it upside down for Christ. In order for this future letter to be meaningful, you will need to know who you are. You will need to understand your identity. The destiny of your spiritual life is in such identification with Jesus Christ that you always hear God, and you know that God always hears you (John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God. Be not distracted. Hear Him all the time. What hinders you from hearing? At Challenge Staff Training we learn some powerful tools to help us listen...even prepare to listen. The things that hinder your ability to hear are distractions. It is not that you will not hear God, but you are not devoted in the right place. What are you devoted to? To things, to service, to convictions. The child attitude is always, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." If you have not cultivated this devotion of hearing, you can only hear God's voice at certain times; at other times you’re consumed with things - things which you say you must do, and you become deaf to Him. You must live the life of a child. Have you heard God's voice today? If not, why not?

"What I tell you in darkness, those speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ears that preach ye upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27

At 0300 hours on a 20,000 feet ridge in the Hindu Kush Mountains, my 20-man team was in our hide sites waiting for contact with the enemy. The night was black as pitch. My natural eye site was useless and therefore my sense of hearing and my sense of smell were heightened. We lay silent, we listen to discern movement, numbers, speed, direction. At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us how to hear Him. We are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him. Be aware of the situations where God puts you into darkness. When you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will talk over the words you should her. Darkness is the time to listen. The most important thing to do is not talk to other people about it; not to read books to find out the reason of the darkness. The most important thing is but to listen and to heed. Sometimes, if you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.

After every time of darkness there comes a mixture of delight and humiliation. The exhilaration comes from hearing God speak. What about the humiliation? Why the mixed emotion? Answer – why did it take such a long time to hear from God? How slow are we to understand God? He gives you the gift of humiliation that brings the softness of heart that will always listen to God. James 1:2-4, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Cultivate your relationship with God. Take time to listen to Him. Learn to listen. Capitalize on the situation you are in. Be reminded of who you are and whose you are. Then when in the light, make the impact God has designed.

God is good. Find out for yourself.

Challenge Program Director, Bruce Stansbury

Dates For Basic/ Extreme 2010/ Details included.

Gentlemen,
Here are the dates and info for Basic:
Oct 4-8

This year Challenge Basic will be held at Fort Benning Georgia. We have an exciting program planned that will focus you on being the leader God wants you to be. Opportunities you will receive at Basic include:

Rappelling conducted by the Warrior Training Center
Land Navigation on the 4th Ranger Battalions NAV course
Firearms instruction from the Army Marksmanship Unit
Run the Army Ranger Confidence and Obstacle courses at the Warrior Training Center
Learn the Challenge Values: Duty, Courage, Humility, Strength, Godly, Faithful, Teamwork, Discipleship, Sacrifice, Leadership

In todays world, we need men capable of leading confidently under pressure and stress. Challenge Basic helps teach you the skills you need to execute and complete your daily missions.

Come join us as at Fort Benning Georgia, home of the Infantry, Airborne and Army Rangers and learn skills you need to impact your world for Christ! “...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1: 27

And for Extreme:

Oct 13-18

After completing Basic, continue your Challenge experience by attending Extreme. Challenge Extreme will be conducted this year in the jungle and swamp of an undisclosed U.S. Military Base. The emphasis during Extreme is to continue the development of the Specialist leadership reaction skills. You must be capable of operating effectively under conditions of extreme mental and physical stress. Challenge Extreme makes this happen through practical exercises in Task- Force level operations in a jungle/swamp environment.
As a Specialist at Extreme you will learn:

• Small boat operations
• Expedient stream crossings
• Three gun Action Shooting
• Skills needed to survive and operate in a jungle/swamp environment.

You will also learn how to lead your team to execute and complete missions in a real-life scenario taken from todays headlines.

Our world needs the self-sacrificing leadership you receive at Extreme.
Come join your brothers in Christ and receive practical training that will prepare you for wherever God may send you!

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12 “ And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. “ II Timothy 2:2

Speaker Info: Mike McFarland will be with us for both weeks www.teenpact.com/uploads/McFarland Challenge picture bio(1).pdf


**ROOM AND BOARD BETWEEN BASIC AND EXTREME**
There will be a place and food provided for the specialists staying in between Basic and Extreme. It will be optional and not mandatory. Let Executive Officer Joseph Schalchlin know that you will be needing this by contacting him at tpchallenge@gmail.com . There will be an extra $95 charge for this to cover the costs, so bring your money with you.

That's About it,

And so in the undying words of Challenge Specialist Stephen Boyd, "Press On"

Officer Phillips

The Breastplate Of Saint Patrick/ Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick was a very strong christian, early in life he was captured and made a slave. He escaped and returned to his homeland, while he was there someone shared the Gospel with him. He was so inspired that he went back to the land where he was a slave to share the gospel. Incredible!!!! A special shoutout to all the irish who read this blog. You know who you are, (Mike Powers) Happy Saint Patrick day. Eat lots of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread.

Here is the Prayer or "Breasplate" of saint Patrick





I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

I love all the old tyme language.
So as Stephen Boyd Says,
"Press On"
Officer Phillips

LIFE TO THE FULLEST

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is men who have come alive.” -- Gil Bailie

It’s funny to me how God sometimes decides to go a totally different direction than what I expect. He did that with this post. I had already finished most of the preparation for a different topic and was just about to write the final version when I decided to read Officer Stansbury’s last post one more time. As I did, I was profoundly struck by three phrases in his message. The first was “Don’t be constrained by your experience.” Next, to the Challenge Dads he wrote, “We have experienced a life of abuse and worry.” Finally, he said, “Dare (emphasis mine) to have a meaningful relationship with the creator of the universe.” Now, I had already read the post … several times. But, this time was different. I felt like God was using these phrases to get my attention in a big way. When I prayed and asked Him about it, He immediately reminded me of a line in the McFarland creed: Live life to the fullest. It comes directly from the words of Jesus in John 10:10: "The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” While every line in my personal creed is intentional and purposeful, I especially love this one. Let me explain why.

Years ago, I was headed down a very bad path. I was already a Christian, but had not been trained to deal with adversity. When it came, I became distracted, discouraged and lost focus. Satan seized the opportunity to convince me to believe several lies about myself. I didn’t think I could measure up and lost hope. As a result, I gave up, checked out and went my own way. In the process, I made some very bad and very costly decisions -- decisions that caused deep and immense pain for many people in my life. It was as if I left my post, allowing the enemy to enter my base and detonate a massive bomb. I deserved to lose everything good in my life and thought I had. But, in His immense mercy and grace, God saw fit to choose otherwise. He started by allowing me to see the devastation I had caused. When I did, I turned my heart back to Him. I accepted full responsibility for my actions, repented and asked for His forgiveness. I submitted myself to Him completely and fully. And then He began to move…in a big way. Soon after, I discovered John 10:10 and feel like Christ revealed the depth of its meaning to me.

When I first read it, the word "full" stood out to me so I looked it up in Webster’s Dictionary. Boy, was I surprised! There were 20 different definitions for this seemingly simple little word! I was also astounded by many of these definitions as I considered how they applied to the life that Christ describes in John 10:10. Here are just a few of them:

Full (adj.): 1. Complete especially in detail, number, or duration. 2. Having all distinguishing characteristics: enjoying all authorized rights and privileges. 3. Not lacking in any essential. 4. Being at the height of development. 5. Rich in experience. 6. Large enough to satisfy. 7. Completely occupied especially with a thought or plan. 8. Possessing a rich or pronounced quality.

Wow! Is that not exciting! It reminds me again of the second part of James 1:4 which states, “…so that we may become mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Of course, let’s not forget that the verse begins by stating, “Perseverance must finish its work …”. The operative word here is perseverance. Webster defines perseverance as “The act of persevering.” The word “persevere” is an action verb with three definitions: 1. To persist in anything undertaken. 2. Maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement. 3. Continue steadfastly.

Do you get the picture yet? God loves us so much that he wants to give us a life of great adventure! However, the Bible also makes it clear that a full life is NOT an easy, safe one with guarantees or clear, timely answers. The full life our Lord intends for us is one that requires obedience, faith and trust in Him without demanding to know why things are happening, regardless of how hard or painful they might be. Satan knows about this full life and hates it. He does everything possible to stop a man from completing the mission Christ has for him, because he knows that God calls men to lead the way in this world. Mr. Stansbury was right. We should not let our fears or past adverse experiences constrain us. Instead, we should dare to have a meaningful relationship with the creator of the universe and be constrained only by the love of Christ. That is a truly full life.

Those years ago God redeemed me. Here and now I testify that He has poured out His love on me and graciously granted me a FULL LIFE. It is not without pain, struggle, uncertainty or hardship. It is also not without immense peace, joy, laughter, adventure and contentment. I would not trade it for any other. Young men, I encourage you to avoid wasted years that will leave only needless pain and regret. Rather, choose to seek Christ with your whole heart. Obey Him completely and trust Him in all circumstances so that you can realize the full life He has in store for you. As John Elderedge so aptly puts it in his book The Way of the Wild At Heart, “Don’t choose safety over the opportunity to come alive…. Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived! Embrace risk! Love with abandon. Stop waiting for others to love you first.”

Now, I encourage you to go live life to the fullest!!!!

Mike McFarland
2010 Guest Director