Stop waiting to get to heaven…Bring heaven on earth

God has not separated you to show what a wonderful man He could make of you, but to reveal His Son in you.

"For the love of Christ constrains us." 2 Corinthians 5:14

Paul says he is overruled, overmastered, by the love of Christ. For those of you who attended the combatives training at Extreme 2009, you know what it means to be held in a grip; held as in a vice. This is how we should view our linkage to the love of God; we are held by the constraint of our experience. I encourage you to experience God. Purposefully choose to spend time with Him. Dare to have a meaningful relationship with the creator of the universe. The one thing that should hold you, even when there is hopelessness like the feeling the ancient mariners felt when they reached the nothingness of the horizon, is the love of God. "The love of Christ constrains us" - when you hear that note in a man’s voice, you can never mistake it. You know that the Spirit of God is getting his unhindered way in that life. Let that be said of you.

Jesus said - "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Not witnesses to what Jesus can do, but "witnesses unto Me." We should take everything that happens as happening to Him, whether it be praise or blame, persecution or commendation. No one can stand like that for Jesus Christ who is not constrained by the majesty of His personal power. The battle of good with evil is not an even match. God has beaten satan. Our hero is not going to be conquered. However, for many around us, this last sentence is wholly dependent on how we live life. As men, our greatest fear should not be that we would be condemned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. In other words the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end if we do not bring these into the atmosphere as we engage life. Live in confidence. Work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated. So when the time comes to boast of the great things you have done…remember it is not you who did the great thing but Christ within you. When we get to heaven; before we one our mouths, will God see me, Bruce, or you John, or you Seth…I pray not. I pray that God will see Jesus. Jesus is the only one worthy of entering Gods presence. So just like you cannot show up to Challenge without having practices your sit-ups and push-ups…you can not show up to heaven without having practiced your Jesus. Paul says he is gripped by the love of God, which is why he acts as he does. What makes you act the way you do? It is said, “You have not lived until you have found something to die for”. There is only one thing worth living for, one thing that bears fruit in this life. Desire to be used to persuade men of the judgment seat of God, and of the love of Christ. Men, I encourage you to always leave the impression of the holiness and of the power of God, never of our personal holiness.

Living for God
1 Peter 4
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Dads, I speak to you as a fellow dad. We have experienced a life of abuse and worry. Take encouragement that Christ has also and much more. Because we are joint heirs with Christ, we will also share in the glory to be revealed. But let us not wait for that day. Let us reveal God’s Glory here, now, on earth. How? Dads, lead the way for your family and friends and co-workers. God has placed them in your realm of influence. Serve them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. Do not be greedy for money, but eager to serve. Do not lord it over them, but be an example to them.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are in authority over you. Be respectful of those who have “been there and done that”. All of you, conduct yourselves with humility when dealing with each other, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[Proverbs 3:34] I know that it is hard growing up. There are many pressures in life. Life is full of uncertainty. This is why God gave us parents and folks who have “been there and done that”. When is doubt, give all your worries to Christ. He truly cares about the struggles you are going through.

Be self-controlled and alert…better yet be spirit-controlled. Your enemy has already be defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ. However he is still trying to take down as many weaklings as he can. So it is your turn to use the word of your testimony. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith. Be aware that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of challenges. You are not alone. Link arms and go into the fray with the mind set that you are more than a conqueror. Do not do life alone.

I pray that God, who called you to his eternal glory, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Help me praise Him for displaying His power forever and ever.

Meditate on Psalm 119 all of it, specifically 9-10…do not stray!

Challenge Program Director Bruce Stansbury

Pursuing Your Purpose

“May you learn to value purpose over pleasure, duty over delight and faith over feeling in pursuit of the great adventure that God has for you.”
-- Chuck Holton, A More Elite Soldier

Hello everyone, Specialist Camden McFarland’s dad here. First Officer Stansbury has asked me to join in the Challenge blog. I thought a good way to start would be to pick up where he left off in his last post, “Where the Rubber Meets the Road.” There, First Officer Stansbury spoke strongly about the importance of pursuing a life of purpose. I agree wholeheartedly. So much so, that it is part of my family’s creed and a core tenet of the training my sons receive as I teach them how to be authentic godly men. Now, you are probably saying, “HUA! I get it and am ready to step up!” However, you might also be wondering, “But how do I pursue my purpose, if I’m not even sure what that purpose is?” Well, be encouraged. I believe God’s word provides answers to this question. The following are five that I have found to be true as I pursue Christ’s purpose for me:

1. Follow orders.

Complete obedience to God and a close relationship with him must be the top priority for every person who wants to realize God’s purpose for their life. This is verified in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” It is emphasized again in Joshua 1:1-9, where God gives Joshua his orders to lead the Israelites into the promised land. Pay special attention to verses 7-9. God makes it clear that if Joshua wants to succeed, he must follow orders. This happens again in 2 Kings 2:2-3. King David is on his deathbed and gives this charge to his son, Solomon: “… So be strong, show yourself a man (emphasis mine), and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements … so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.” Again, the bottom line is that total submission to God is a mandatory, non-negotiable requirement if you want to realize his purpose for your life.

2. It’s an “all or nothing” proposition.

God will not reveal his purpose for you until you are fully committed to Him. Put simply, he wants your whole heart. In his book Waking The Dead, John Elderedge illustrates this when he says, "To find God, you must look with all your heart. To remain present to God, you must remain present to your heart. To hear his voice, you must listen with all your heart. To love him, you must love with all your heart. You cannot be the person God meant you to be, and you cannot live the life he meant you to live, unless you live from the heart." Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Romans 12:2 does too. Check it out.

3. You are on a “need to know” basis.

God does not tell you what you need to know to accomplish your mission until you need to know it. Even then, he only tells you enough to get to the next step in that journey. He also never does the same thing twice and makes it clear that your life is not just about you and that you are part of something much bigger than yourself ( Jeremiah 10:23, Proverbs 16:1,16:9, 19:21). Uncomfortable with this? That’s normal. Most people are. However, men of god must learn to be comfortable with discomfort. God works this way because he wants to show you his faithfulness, so that you can see firsthand that he is worthy of being trusted and loves you deeply. Then, as you learn to trust him in all situations, your faith increases and you praise him more. Make no mistake. It is all about God and he gets all the credit. He alone is worthy of all praise and glory.

4. The only easy day was yesterday.

If you start down a path that you believe is God’s purpose for you, only to encounter difficulties, challenges and setbacks, along with feelings of fear, insufficiency, or a sense of being in way over your head … then you are probably on the right track. Don’t let that surprise you. The Bible makes it clear that if you want God to use you to make a difference in this world, then you will draw fire from the enemy (Matthew 10:16, 22, 34). He also says that you must be willing to endure hardship if you want to be a soldier of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Pursuing God requires self-discipline and tenacity, because God uses hardship to build character and teach perseverance. You must persevere so that you can become mature and complete, not lacking anything. Don’t take my word for it. Read Romans 5:3 and James 1:2-4. It’s all there.

5. You are already uniquely suited and fully equipped to complete your mission.

God points this out in Romans 12:6 and 1 Corinthians 7:7. He knew his plan for you before you were even born (Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 2:10). He also gives you the strength (Philippians 4:13) and, ironically, the weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) necessary to accomplish his purpose for your life (Psalm 57:2, Philippians 1:6). Is that not awesome?! Well, it doesn’t stop there. Our creator loves us so much that he actually put desires in our heart that make us enjoy the tasks needed to pursue our purpose so that we may find joy in the plans he has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). In the words of Fredrick Buechner, ““The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep hunger.” So, figure out what you love and then use it for the glory of God. That is how he intended you to be!

Well, it’s time to wrap this up. I’ve thrown a lot at you. It may take awhile to digest it all. In the meantime, start by reading Romans 8:28-39. This passage concisely summarizes the answers I’ve shared and boils them down to one powerful truth: “…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” So, take heart Specialists! You have been called to be men of God and leaders of men. Now go forward and reject passivity, accept responsibility and lead courageously so that you will receive the eternal reward God has in store for you.

Stand Firm,

Mike McFarland
2010 Challenge Guest Director

Verse for the Day

Men,
Here is your verse for the day. Unit Squad will remember it well. First Timothy 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.
Read and Remember Gentlemen.
Officer Phillips
HOOAH

DVDs Finally Here!!!

Challenge Staff, Recruits, Specialists, and Dads

They are finally here. The DVDs for the 2009 Season of Challenge. Basic...and...Extreme.

These two DVDs are packed with over 1800 items. Nearly 100 videos and and over 1700 images. Remember Day One, STORM-E, the 60 foot tower, the economy of pain, Kings Pond, the Company Push-Up, sleep err uh lack there-of, the Leaders Reaction Course, Hand-to-Hand Combat, the low crawl, the awesome staff, the scarce meals, the Swamp, Marksmanship Day, the grenade Launcher and the .50 Cal, room clearing, running, push-ups, the Obstacle Course, the mud, the Challenge Course, running, starving, Combatives, Aussie, push-ups and running, Great Motivational Speeches, First Officer Stansbury's favorite exercise, and food...I mean lack of food, all of this and more are yours for the memories.

Use these DVDs to relive the experience. Show them to your church, your youth group, your friend, and neighbors. Encourage them to join in the powerful, life-transforming events for 2010.

The Challenge Basic DVD is $10.00.
The Challenge Extreme DVD is $10.00.
These prices include shipping.

Send an email with your request and shipping address. Send the funds to The Timothy Group, Inc. PO Box 1701, Fortson GA 31808. or you can PayPal your payment to thetimothygroupinc@gmail.com.
All funds will be used to support the 2010 Challenge season. Donations are tax deductible.

(2009 Challenge Staff Members: Do not order the DVDs. Yours will be sent free of charge. I love you, Men)

Bruce Stansbury, MAJ (ret)
TeenPact Challenge Program Director
The Timothy Group, Inc.
PO Box 1701
Fortson, GA 31808

And
Officer Phillips

Where the rubber meets the road

"Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16

We all know that Paul was called to spread the good news of Christ to the gentiles. We know that. What do you know about Gods call on your life? I know there is one. Take some time, stop, be quiet, and listen to God. What is He sharing with you? What do you know?

Do not confuse you salvation with your relationship with God. There is nothing easier than getting saved because it is God's sovereign work – “Come unto Me and I will save you.” There is a period on that last sentence because there is nothing else to do, nothing else to discuss, nothing else required for the act of salvation to occur. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Jesus Christ. Discipleship, however, has an option with it - "IF any man . . . " You have a choice to make; a lifetime of choices.

Beware of stopping your eyes from seeing the leading of God. Beware of stopping your ears from hearing God’s counsel to you. Beware of stopping your feet from going where God is. Beware of stopping your mind from thinking God’s thoughts. Beware of stopping your heart from bleeding God’s blood, feeling God’s pangs of love toward others.

Check out Colossians 3:1-2 “So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from His perspective.”

God’s word toward us has to do with being made a servant of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. "I am already being poured out as a drink offering." 2 Timothy 4:6. God makes us broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be "zealously engaged for God" means to hear the call of God; and when a man begins to hear that call, then begins agony that is worthy of the name. Every ambition is nipped in the bud, every desire of life quenched, every selfish outlook completely extinguished and blotted out, saving one thing only - "separated unto God." Woe be to the soul who tries to put his foot in any other direction once he hears the call.

Challenge exists to see whether God has a man here who cares about doing God’s will; to see whether God grips you. And beware of distractions when God does grip you.

Colossians 3:3-4”Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.”
Colossians 3:5-8 “And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.”

Slay the selfish you like David slew Goliath. Kill it and then cut its head off for a sign to all the distractions that would think about coming at you in the future. As if to say, “This too will happen to you.”

I challenge you to find the way God has for you. Once you find it, be obedient. Do not do life alone. God gave you parents and authorities in your life for a reason; talk to them. Discuss what you are experiencing and going through. Their old they have been through it too…or they know someone who has…someone who can help. God planned life that way. Do not reinvent God’s plan so that you can be comfortable. If I challenged you to find in the bible where God promised a comfortable life and you accepted the challenge, you would fail.

Accept the challenge to find God’s purpose for you ... and succeed.

First Officer Stansbury

PRAYER!!!

Men,
We need to be in prayer for Officer Stansbury and his family. BIG TIME, He is going through a time of illness. Pray that he can regain his place on the "wall" standing guard over his home and family. (In his own words)
The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17

Officer Phillips

"He is Large, In Charge and On the Throne"-
Challenge First Officer Bruce Stansbury
January 2010

I Am a Challenge Specialist.....

I am a Challenge Specialist, I cannot be bought,compromised,detoured,lured away,turned back,deluded,or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. If won't give up, shut up,let up,until I have prayed up, praised up, payed up and spoke up for my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16
Officer Phillips