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A Man & His Money By
Anthony Coleman (May 2009) A man I once knew walked for miles across town to visit me. He had
a request. As his story unfolded I recognized it was leading up to a need for money. To summarize it, he wanted
$20 to get his mothers TV back after hocking it for drugs. My brother-in-law, who happened to be visiting me
at the time, cautioned me not to give the man any cash. It was obvious that something else was in play. However,
I was led to use it as a teachable moment, so I decided to meet his request if he agreed to allow us to take him to get it. Once
we arrived at the drug dealer's home, he begged us to allow him to go do the exchange alone. I gave him the money and
rather than return with a TV he got more drugs. I went along with his scheme only to allow him to see himself.
It's sad even tragic to see a man so controlled by a substance that he can't even be trusted with $20. You understand
many things about your character when money is placed in your hands. If a man, by the grace of God, has not harnessed
and cleansed his appetites, they will find expression through his wallet. Married men know firsthand how important it
is that money matters be handled with utmost integrity. A wife must have absolute confidence that she can trust her
husband with cash in his pocket. If his actions reflect a disregard for his family the wife will ultimately feel a need
to protect herself. Researchers tell us that money is likely the least favorite topic in a family. It's the primary
reason most singles remain single. In fact, men who cohabit rather than marry view the arrangement without any sense
of financial obligation. But, you put a ring on his hand and it's a different story. To examine a man simply examine
his money. What does he do with it? Money means nothing until it's in the hands of a person. Then it becomes
whatever is in that person. Recently my wife and I bought a vehicle. It is a car that I primarily drive,
so at the beginning I had in mind a little two door car that looked a little sporty or something a dude would like.
Then I began to think outside of myself. I took into account my family and how the new car would best fit in.
Our primary vehicle is older and we are not certain how many more miles it will serve us. My wife and I have
children in our home. What if something happened and the older car bit the dust? Would this new little two bucket
handle all of us? Should it be something that my wife likes as well, after all it will be, "our" car. Once
I began thinking like that my options changed. What I decided to do with money changed. We ended up getting a
car that, not only my wife and I like, but one that our children liked as well. It became a family decision.
Contentment, What Price Would You Pay To Posses It? By Anthony
Coleman (July 2009) Paul makes a statement that most men only dream about making. In Philip 4:11
he says, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."
One translation says," I have come to learn, in the circumstances in which I am placed, to be independent of these
and self-sufficient. How does a man get to a place in life where he can honestly
make such a statement? Most men relate to the guy who says, "I'm forever in pursuit but can't seem to identify
what I am chasing." Paul discovered that the circumstances of life don't bring
us contentment; only our fellowship with God can do that. So, a content man needs no assistance
from outward things in order to see himself complete, lacking nothing. II Cor 3:5 reminds us that our sufficiency
is found in God. You can assess yourself; whether or not you are a content man. Ask
yourself this question. Is there any person, place, or thing that if absent from my life I couldn't
see myself whole? You could explain it this way; a content man has found a healthy distinction between
what he needs and what he wants. How Contentment protects you: - You
avoid bad choices
- You catch error early
- You respond to peace
The Do Nothing Eschatologist End Time Apathy by Anthony Coleman When I discuss our responsibility
as Christian citizens who should engage in civic duties I am often confronted with a somewhat puzzling kind of response from
some Christians. My best description of what they tell me is that it resembles a mindset of a (do nothing eschatologist). Charles
Finney, in Lectures on Revivals of Religion, made this statement: "The time has come that
Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians
have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to
act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it - and He will bless or curse
this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]." Recently, I was listening to David
Barton, founder of WallBuilders, which is a pro-family organization that presents America's forgotten history and
heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage. During Barton's presentation he
mentioned that many well meaning Christians have told him that he is wasting his time. The end time events have been
pre-ordained and all of this bad stuff has to happen. Another well spoken televangelist has preached that America
doesn't appear to be mentioned as a key component of end time prophecy so there must be a demise of the Republic precipitating
the fulfillment of his view of eschatology. For the sake of discussion, let's accept this premise with a question; how
then should Christians in America respond? Regardless of your view of Eschatology, we can't interpret end time prophecy
to mean, do nothing, sit down and watch, or apathetically operate with hope that events will move along quickly so we can
get out of here. In response to his dissenters Barton states that every Christian individual ultimately must respond
to the command (or principle of Luke 19:13) to occupy until Jesus comes. Think of this. The Great Commission
does not have an expiration date. Kingdom building is a responsibility every generation must embrace. In as much,
our duty as citizens precludes the idea that we voluntarily surrender society to darkness. It is a great deception to
believe in a do nothing eschatology. Samuel Adams made this statement regarding civic duty; "Let
each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual
- or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which
he is accountable to God and his country." [Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing,
editor (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. IV, p. 256, in the Boston Gazette on April 16, 1781.]
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Children With Involved Fathers Are: -Better able
to deal with frustration. -More sociable -More confident -Less anxious -Likely to have higher grades -Better at independence -Higher self-esteem -More compassionate
What Does A Spiritually Mature Man Look
Like? By Anthony Coleman (July 2009) If you asked the average
Christian man to define spiritual maturity, you would be surprised at the answer or lack thereof. Something as significant
to our very existence as Christians should be easy to answer, or so we would think. Defining spiritual
maturity provides every member of a church with a useful way to monitor his or her personal spiritual progress. Without
such a mechanism both written and modeled we would not be able to determine what would functionally constitute spiritual maturity. Maybe we have become so concerned about the perception others may have if we purport to know what a spiritually
mature man looks like. It might be taken as arrogance. On Monday May 11, 2009, the Barna Group released
a survey finding that half of churchgoers cannot clearly describe how their church defines a "spiritually mature follower
of Jesus." Among those who did offer their personal description of spiritual maturity, the views are mostly one
dimensional, according to the survey. Some defined it as having a relationship with Jesus (21 percent), following
rules and being obedient (15 percent), living a moral lifestyle (14 percent), possessing concern for others (13 percent),
involved in spiritual disciplines (13 percent), applying the Bible (12 percent), being spiritual or having belief (8 percent),
sharing your faith with others (6 percent), church activities (5 percent). The survey even suggested that most pastors
were unable to describe their view of spiritual maturity. Of those who offered a response, most believed that the
practice of spiritual disciplines (19 percent) was the best way to measure spiritual maturity. After
that would be involvement in church activities (15 percent), witnessing to others (15 percent), having a relationship with
Jesus (14 percent), having a concern for others (14 percent), applying the bible to life (12 percent), being willing to grow
(12 percent), and knowledge of scripture (9 percent). Most of the pastors who participated were also vague or
generic in offering biblical passages that address spiritual maturity. Of those who gave specific passages they included
Galatians 5, John 3:16, Ephesians 4, Matthew 28, and Romans 12:1-2. Just two percent of pastors specifically identified
Galatians 5. I would specifically include Gal 5:14, Eph 4:15, and if I were only allowed one it would be I Tim
1:5. Why would I suggest the three passages? It's because they are examples of why we have the written word; its
objective; what we are growing up into. If there is one trait that indicates that a man has matured spiritually, it
would be how he has handled agape.
Placing Value On His Treasure By Anthony Coleman (Aug 2009) What
are some of the first thoughts that come to mind when the word treasure is mentioned? More than likely
images of gold and silver overflowing from a treasure chest are some of the first things we think of. Many books, movies,
and tales are based on the adventures surrounding treasure hunts. In fact, many people make it their ambition in life
and have developed elaborate methods of discovery. Words most associated with treasure are words like, riches, wealth,
worth, value, rare, precious, or cherished and appreciated. Before something becomes a treasure it must be appreciated
enough to carry the status of treasure. A popular cultural idiom says, "Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder." The same applies in regard to treasure. One day I took my x-ray truck in for processor
service. The service man that serviced my processor called me the following morning concerned about a ring he left in
the back of the truck while working on the processor. He told me that it was not worth much money but had significant
sentimental value to him. He requested that I not only look through the back of the unit myself but allow him to personally
drive to our office and look through it himself. As far as he was concerned that ring was treasure. A
treasure-hunting specialist must first become a specialist in finding things. That means more
must be in play than just the mere value of a thing. For instance, to search and discover, treasure-hunters must develop
skills such as cartography[making maps] and understand some things about geology. In order to determine where to look
and how to look for things, they must develop techniques that determine how, where, and why people loose things. With
that knowledge a plan with the highest probability of success will be in place. Second to becoming a specialist
in finding things a treasure hunter must determine the value of a find. This is much like what
we understand about the things of God. Jesus said in Mat 13:44 that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in
a field which causes great joy in those who find it. However, as individual believers we determine to what extent
we truly value the treasure given to us. What is this treasure within us? It is, of course, the precious
Holy Spirit and his ministry. Paul said, God will help us comprehend what is necessary to accurately appreciate this
inward treasure (Col 1:27, 2:2-3). Treasure is, in many respects, subjective to our individual values.
Though the bible describes the benefits of the kingdom of God as treasure, those benefits benefit you only if you have
determined them to be beneficial. Think of it this way. God says to treasure His treasure in order
to receive treasure.
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