Uncommon Courage

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” Acts 18:9 (NIV)

There are many parts of the Bible that most people have no problems embracing—like helping the poor. That’s something nearly everyone agrees on. But other parts of Scripture can be harder for the world to accept, and that can make it challenging for Christians to stand firm in their faith.

Some people won’t just disagree with me on these topics—they’ll feel strongly and won’t hesitate to challenge my perspective.

It takes an uncommon courage to stand up against that kind of pressure.

Here are three issues related to sanctity that Christ followers today need to stand up for.

The sanctity of life: God has a purpose for every unborn child. God planned your life before you were born: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT).

When I put my faith in Jesus, it shapes how I see the world—including the belief that every life, born or unborn, has purpose and value.

The sanctity of sex: Sex is only for marriage. Sex is God’s idea. It isn’t dirty or wrong; sex is holy. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (NIV).

God’s instructions never change: Premarital sex and living together without being married are unacceptable to God. Adultery and pornography and the objectification of women are unacceptable to God.

The sanctity of marriage: One man and one woman for life. That is God’s intended, original design. The Bible is very clear on the issue of marriage: “Haven’t you read . . . that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV).

People of goodwill can disagree over many issues in life. But as a believer, it’s important to line up with what God says about the sanctity of life, sex, and marriage. And I need to have the courage to stand up for them—even when it’s not the popular or politically correct thing to do.

In Summary:

Acts 18:9 reminds believers to speak boldly and not remain silent, even when the truth is unpopular. While some biblical values—like helping the poor—are widely accepted, others require uncommon courage to defend, especially in a culture that increasingly challenges Christian convictions. Christ followers are called to stand firmly for the sanctity of life, sex, and marriage. Every unborn life has God-given value and purpose; sex is a sacred gift reserved for marriage; and marriage is God’s design between one man and one woman for life. These truths may not align with society’s views, but they are clearly outlined in Scripture. As believers, we must remain faithful to God’s Word and courageous enough to speak it—lovingly and without compromise.

Bottom Line:

God calls me to stand with courage and speak His truth—especially about life, sex, and marriage—even when it’s unpopular or challenged by the world. 

Developing Strong Convictions

In Hebrews 11:1 I read, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (NRSV)

Dictionaries define “conviction” as a fixed or strong belief, but conviction is much more than that. In addition to my beliefs, my convictions include my values, commitments, and motivations.

Howard Hendricks put it like this, “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.”

My convictions determine my conduct. They motivate me to take a stand and act according to my values.

When I first became a Christian, I often did things simply because Christians around me suggested or modeled them. I may pray, read the Bible, and attend church services because of their example.

This is fine for a new Christian; little children learn the same way. However, as I grow, I must eventually develop my own reasons for doing what I do. Those reasons become convictions.

Biblical convictions are essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Ironically, many people today have strong convictions about minor issues, like football or fashion. At the same time, they have weak convictions about major issues, like what is right and what is wrong.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (NRSV).

Developing strong, biblical convictions takes time and commitment. But it’s worth it. In the long run, they’ll help me live a consistent, faith-driven life.

In summary, dictionaries define “conviction” as a fixed or strong belief, but conviction is much more. In addition to my beliefs, my convictions include my values, commitments, and motivations. “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.” My convictions determine my conduct. They motivate me to take a stand and act according to my values. I often did things simply because Christians around me suggested or modeled them. However, as I grow, I must eventually develop my own reasons for doing what I do. Those reasons become convictions. Biblical convictions are essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Ironically, many have strong convictions about minor issues. At the same time, they have weak convictions about major issues, like what is right and what is wrong. Biblical faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Developing strong, biblical convictions takes time and commitment. In the long run, they’ll help me live a consistent, faith-driven life.

Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God's new and fresh surprises will surely be ours. Two words describe faith: confidence and assurance. These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character. He is who he says. The end point is believing in God's promises: He will do what he says. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don't see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

God’s Voice Brings Peace

In review of Philippians 4:6-7 it says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray. Tell God what you need, and thank him for what he has done. As a result you’ll experience God’s peace, which is beyond anything we can understand. This peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.

What this means to me:

I am to not worry about anything, rather I should take these concerns to God in prayer, telling him what it is I need with thanksgiving for what He has already provided. Then His peace will descend upon me and guard my heart and mind as I continue to live in Christ Jesus.

Today I will look at two additional things to test whether an impression or an idea is from God or not.

I can ask, “Is the thought or impression convicting or is it condemning?”

There is a tendency to go through life living under condemnation and guilt, thinking it’s the voice of God. But what I learning is that it’s not. That’s the enemy!

Conviction comes from God and condemnation comes from the enemy. The purpose of conviction is to correct something that’s out of whack in your life. The purpose of condemnation is just to put you down and make you feel miserable and guilty and ashamed. The motivation behind conviction is that God loves you and wants to help you be better. The motivation behind condemnation is that Satan hates you and wants to make you miserable. When God speaks to you about an area in your life for conviction, he’s very specific. Condemnation is general.

God will be specific when something is out of whack. He follows this up with a solution. I then confess it to God, and then the feeling of conviction leaves instantly. Condemnation, on the other hand, will go on and on and on.

Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). God will never do anything to attack my value. If I hear a voice that says, “You’re hopeless! You’re worthless! You’re unlovable!” I can know with certainty that is not the voice of God.

Finally, I need to ask if “I sense God’s peace about it?”

If I get an impression and it makes me feel pressured, overwhelmed, or confused, I need to question whether that impression is really from God. God doesn’t want me to live under pressure. He wants me to sense his peace.

The enemy wants to drive me compulsively. But God desires to draw me compassionately. I should consider if I’m sensing God saying anything encouraging, or is it all about pressure?

The word for the pressure that comes into our lives that drives us away from God’s peace is: worry. But Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

These verses point out that worry is never from God. It only creates pressure in our lives. Those verses also provide this incredible promise: Take your worry to God, and leave it there. Listen to his voice. It will bring peace if you only obey it.

So in recap, God will always specifically point out what’s out of whack so that I can correct it and make me better.

Overall, here is a summary of questions I can ask to know if an impression is from God.

Does it agree with the Bible? (John 7:17)

Will it make me more like Christ? (James 3:17)

Does my church family confirm it? (Ephesians 3:10)

Is it consistent with how God has shaped me? (Ephesians 2:10)

Does it concern my responsibility? (Romans 14:4)

Is it convicting rather than condemning? (Romans 8:1)

Do I sense God’s peace about it? (Philippians 4:6-7)

Short Term Thinking Will Keep Me from Seeing Clearly

In review of Mark 8:17 it says, "Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’”

Bottom Line:

Do you not see or understand, do you not grasp what has happened, don’t you catch on? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing, is your mind closed?

What it means to me:

I need to be careful with getting caught up in myself and not seeing what God is doing. If I do, I’ll miss out on what God is doing in my life, especially if I remain focused on the here-and-now and not what God wants to do in my life for the long term. When I think about comfort rather than character, when I think about my happiness and not my holiness, when I’m thinking about enjoying now instead of preparing for eternity; I’m caught up in short-term thinking, and it will keep me from seeing life clearly. This is what happened with the disciples in this passage. Jesus was trying to teach them a lesson about pride by using yeast as a metaphor. The Bible says in Mark 8:16-17, “His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, ‘He said this because we have no bread.’ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’” (NCV) Jesus was trying to teach the disciples a lesson about life, and they thought he was talking about lunch! He was talking about the need for maturity, and they were talking about their next meal. Now that’s short-term thinking. Unfortunately, short-term thinking will keep me from seeing how God is working in my life. It’s hard to think long-term today because everything in our society teaches me to do the opposite. We tend to rob the future to enjoy today. We’re setting up years and years of unpayable debt to future generations so we can do what we want now. Whenever I’m thinking short-term, I won’t be able to see what God’s doing. I won’t be able to see his long-range plans for my character when I’m thinking only about my own comfort.

Arrows in the hand of a warrior - a man and his children - part 3

This post is about Chapter 11 "Arrows in the hand of a Warrior" from "Tender Warrior" by Stu Weber.

Our kids were designed by God to make an impact on this word.  To live for a reason.
Father’s are accountable/responsible to help them understand they are to count for something in God’s great scheme of things.

We are to let them go, give them guidance and a smooth release.
#1 issue as reported by kids was the inability or unwillingness of parents to release their grown children.

Skillful parenting does not come naturally. Help them in their personal responsibility to the Lord to increase and personal responsibility to Dad/Mom decrease. At times we must let them struggle.

Letting go is a process - we must practice - to get good at it, it starts at birth and then follow through each of the “first others”.  Start practicing now.

• Adulthood - growing up
• God’s view of what it is to be a man or a woman
• Men - Tender Warriors - Pro-visionaries, men who stay and stay and stay
• Women - Strong in companionship ability, nurturing skills, development of other Human beings - a helpmate suitable
• Preparation for marriage - God make us to live out specific roles

“As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children of one’s youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver if full of them”

Our children are the only messages we’ll send to a world we’ll never see.  They are the only provision we have for impacting a world at a distance.

In summary, As fathers we are accountable/responsibility to help our kids (others) understand they are designed by God to make an impact on this world, live for a reason.  As we do this we need to be thinking in terms of letting them go.  This in itself is a process that we must practice (starting at birth and through each of the “firsts” in their lives.)  The target is to; get them to adulthood, help them see God’s view of what it is to be a man or a woman, prepare them for marriage (how we should live out our specific roles in the marriage.)  Our children (others) are the only messages we’ll send out to the world, make an impact moving forward.

Based on this, here’s a question to leave you with:

In Chapter 11, Stu quoted a statistic regarding the number one issue for a group of adult children about their top five concerns as it related to their parents.  This top issue kids was the inability or unwillingness of parents to release their grown children.  What do you think about the notion regarding "letting them go" and a "smooth release?"

Spanning the generations - a man and his children, part 2

This post is about Chapter 10 "Spanning the Generations" from "Tender Warrior" by Stu Weber.

Fatherhood belongs to the man - it is our responsibility to develop kids (others)

Eph 6:4, Fathers bring your children (others) up in the discipline and instruction of the lord.
Responsibility is with fathers.
We are cautioned to be careful how we do it - do not provoke/exasperate (Eph. 6:5)

you will affect the flow one way or the other - spanning the generations beyond
i.e. founding fathers of the nation
Knew they couldn’t do it where they were, they left, became pilgrims to father a new way of life, to lay a new foundation, take responsibility for future generations

Ex.34:7 sins of fathers extend to the 3rd or 4th generation

i.e. find Jesus, put your confidence in God, keep his commands (Psalm 78:7)

What you do leaves an impact - one way or the other

The world desperately needs you and me to change things.  Right now we are affecting generations to come - one man’s life can actually mark his children

Good / bad / ugly - we are affecting leadership of mid 20th century

Your past need not spell out your future - start a new trend, change the world
be a man - stand firm in faith, act in love
envision the future

A few practical pointers for positive father power:
1. Pursue the Ultimate Father - give your life to the Ultimate Father and the people He has sovereignly placed around you
2. Model and teach respect for authority - teach to respect others
3. Help your family see the big picture - how God see the world, eternal perspective
4. Commit solidly to family unit - we’re not perfect, but we will always do it together
5. Be positive in building family members confidence - of others

Fatherhood is man’s responsibility.  We are commanded to and warned to be cautious.  What we do will span the generations (i.e. founding fathers.)  Our sins can impact the the 3rd / 4th generation.  Move forward - put your confidence in God, keep his commands.  Our past should not keep us from making the future different - be a man, stand firm in faith, act in love, envision the future.  (Pursue the Father, model and teach respect for authority, help others see the big picture, commit solidly to family, be positive/build family members.)

In Summary, Fatherhood is a man’s responsibility.  It is a commandment to us.  We are warned to be cautious in how we do it.  What we do will span generations (i.e. what our founding fathers did.)  Even our sins can impact generations to come.  We are to not let out past keep us from shaping our future.  We are to be a man, stand firm in faith, act in love and envision the future.

• Pursue the father
• Model and teach respect for authority / others
• Help others see the big picture
• Live in solidity to the family
• Be positive/build others up.

Based on this, here’s a question to leave you with:

In chapter 10, why are we cautioned in how we father (Eph. 6:4 - "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord?")  Why is this important?

The incredible power of fathering - a man and his children - part 1

This post is about Chapter 9 "The Incredible Power of Fathering" from "Tender Warrior" by Stu Weber.

Being a father yields tremendous power for our kids/those around us.
A special power is mold another’s life, shape it, give it form.

Model our life after Christ/God’s character,He is the ultimate:

• King and Pro-visionary
• Mentor and Transformer - Master teacher
• Friend - caregiver, over - He gave us everything He had - including His own Son to care for us.

He is the Father “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (Eph 3:15)

We are to become a man after God’s heart
Be reconciled with children - God’s saving power released
Be at odds with children - powers of destruction are beckoning

Like gravity, fathering affects all
Presence or absence of masculine leadership
The “vanishing father” is central to the changing American family structure

Be there to provide a loving touch, care and comforting
A Father’s influence on daughters lasts a lifetime

Why aren’t men taking hold, showing how to hold on, guiding them, helping them grow

You don’t need to have children to father.  At it’s heart it has everything to do with originating, influencing and shaping.
Every man is a father (King, Warrior, Teacher, Friend)
An originator/source, caring, founder/foundations, author
puts together scope / sequence of life, authors / create curriculum for development

Responsibility - Accepts it, takes hold

Help your kids (others) hold on through; disappointments, sorrows, temptations, hurts, and crazy circumstances.
Hold on tightly to God’s hand
Let him be your confidence/wisdom/stability that you find on your own.

In summary, We as men are responsible. Consciously or unconsciously, how we father affects our kids (others.)  We are to provide; a loving touch, care, comforting.  We are to; take hold, show how to hold on, guide them, help them grow.  It has everything to do with originating, influencing and shaping. As God as our example of the Ultimate Father and as we hold onto him as our source.

Based on this, here’s a question to leave you with:

In Chapter 9, Stu states "You don’t need to have children to father, at it’s heart fathering has everything to do with originating, influencing and shaping."  What have you done, are doing, or will doing to make the greatest influence or to shape those in your family or around you?

Learning to Speak Woman

This post is about Chapter 8 "Learning to Speak Woman" from "Tender Warrior" by Stu Weber.

100% of the responsibility for the sustenance of marriage belongs to the man.  Men need to model themselves after the life of Christ.

Woman speak a unique dialect, it’s our responsibility to learn it and speak it back to them with passion. Men must take initiative, and then stick with it, remain under, stay.

Scripture tells us to: 1 Peter 3:7, “You Husbands.. live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker...”

“Live with your wife in an understanding way...”

We are to engage our minds, gain a full mental grasp on the nature / significance

• Think it through
• Work hard at it
• Don’t give up
• Become a student of your wife

“As with a weaker vessel...”
This doesn't mean she is inferior or we are superior, it refers to weaker, but not lesser
She is:

• more delicate (fine china, more fragile)
• more sensitive (has a more precisely adjusted sensory ability, especially in terms of relationships)
• more alert to what’s happening in her environment

By design - requires provision, protection and care
We need to understand her as more delicate, fragile, alert, and sensitive being

We communicate in different ways...
What are a woman’s needs:

• Her need for affection, that is tenderness
• Conversation, the sharing of the heart
• Honesty and openness, no secrets between us
• Security or physical and financial provision
• Relational commitment, she must know she is top priority

Scripture refines these down to three things; Honor, Nourish and Cherish, These must become action plans. We need to show, demonstrate, verbalize and express. Learn to know here needs and to speak her language:

• She needs to know she is top priority
• She needs to hear it from you and see it in your

Based on this, here’s some questions to leave you with:

Stu starts off this chapter 8 saying that as a man we are “100% responsible for the sustenance of the marriage.”  Do you agree or disagree with this statement?   Why?

Stu then provides a verse in scripture which tells us men to “live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker...”    What does culture/media teach about this?  How do you feel about this?   What could be some practical ways in which we can practice what scripture tells us?

A Man and His Lady - Part 1

This post is about Chapter 7 "A Man and His Lady - Part 1" from "Tender Warrior" by Stu Weber.

We’re just different!

Men	Women
Compartmentalized	Connected
Focused	Comprehensive - especially when it comes to relationships
One thing at a time	Every comes and goes together
What happened earlier in the day has no connection to something later in the day	What happens earlier in the day has everything to do with what happens later in the day
Task oriented	Focus on Relationships
[Part of Being a Provider / Protection]	[Part of Being a Helpmate]

Gen. 2:18
God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion....”
Helper does not mean inferior  (it’s says more about the one needing help)
Man is incomplete, he needs help
Culture is trying to tell us there is no fundamental differences, they don’t accept it.
“Equality”?
God -> Men and Women are absolutely equal, however equality does not mean sameness.
Man/Women each think differently, view life differently.

Crux of existence for a woman:

• Sense of relationship
• Interconnectedness of people
• Relationship colors every aspect of a woman’s life

Women	Men
Use conversation to expand and understand relationships	Use talk to covey solutions
See People as mutually dependent	See People as self-reliant
Caring	Value Freedom
Acton's within a context, linking one moment to the next	Regard events as isolated

It may be chitchat to a man, but to a woman, it’s lifeblood

How we see life differently:

Women	Men
See’s everything as connected, therefore describes it that way	(A Man’s view of this is “takes forever to get to the point,” “Land the Plane Already”)
Sharing what is on their minds, that what makes it relevant.  We are together, there is no “Big Point”, no decision is required	Just strives to get to the bottom line, cut away non-essential information
Sharing our hearts, that’s enough!

Women will fight isolation

Men	Woman
Tend to be tough and strong	Tender and Gentle
Logic and linear thinking	Emotion and Verbal communication
Risk taker, ready to “Go for it”	Security and Order
Relational Insensitivity	Sensitivity
Look towards the long haul	Concerned about here and now
Skeptical and Suspicious	More believing and trusting
Buffalo	Butterfly
Rough and Calloused	Keen sensitivity to the slightest breeze
Doesn’t react to a breeze	Notices beauty of even the tiniest flower
Not aware of the smallest of flowers	Constantly aware of all the changes going on and around it
Not sensitive to slight changes	Able to react to the slightest variation in the environment
Strength, when harnessed can pull a plow that four men couldn’t pull	Reacts swiftly toward anything that might hurt it
Tend to plow through circumstances	Man “feel” life and her surroundings with much more sensitivity

Based on this, here’s some questions to leave you with:

In chapter 7, Stu spent time talking about how culture doesn’t want to accept (other than physical differences) that Men / Woman are different.  Do you agree/disagree, why?

In Gen. 2:18, “God said, ‘It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion....’”   Do you think your need a helper?  Why/Why not?