Tag: warrior

Fellowship of the White Path 8/5/18

Path Without End

warfare

We’re still looking at the “Sword of the Spirit”, our main offensive weapon in our Armor of Light. And as we have been in this series, something very special happened last night. I left my last church a year and a half ago, and when I did I also left one of the best friends I’ve ever had. We go way back over 40 years.

When I say “I left”, I don’t mean we left on bad terms or ended our friendship, but suddenly we hardly saw each other. I had taken a different fork in the road. Not only was I going a different way physically speaking, but also spiritually, because I entered what is being called the 2nd Reformation. I began having a different perspective on what church should be, and I knew if I shared my thoughts, it would be hard for him to hear. I knew if he read the things I was writing, not only might it be hurtful, but even make a lot of lesser men angry. So we had not really had a good-honest-sharing of the heart-get together in over a year and a half, but last night it happened.

Here is how I approached it with him. I used the American Civil War. In this war where brother actually fought brother, and brother even killed brother, I asked: What if we had ended up on opposite sides? If we came face to face on that battlefield, would our friendship allow us to step aside out of sight, and share each others views without killing each other? He said he liked to believe we could. I felt the same.

Then I posed it a different way. I said, what if we had lived during the Reformation? What if I had remained a Catholic and you became a Protestant? Would we have still been able to come together and talk about our differences, our heart-felt beliefs, without getting mad and destroying our friendship? Again, we both liked to think we could.

God’s timing always amazes me. I did not know as we began our study of the Sword, that I was also going to draw that Sword. I’m not talking about my friend, but I’m talking about this blog site, our Fellowship, and the Church as a whole. I suddenly realized with our last article that I had actually declared Civil War on the modern church system. I have been writing such things for a while now, but I never thought the message would keep getting stronger, or become the focus of my mission.

I was very slow at publishing the article previous to this one, because I felt like I was crossing a line I needed to be very sure about. I did a lot of praying that day. I reread the article like 10 times! But by the end of the day, that night, the leading was still there, shoot it forth. And I did. I crossed that line. I knew I had. And then, last night I finally got to share my true thoughts with my friend without trying to guard every word I spoke. He at least now really knows where I stand, and what beliefs I am standing upon. He knows I have done my homework, and not carelessly jumped into something. Now whether I have done my homework “correctly” or not, is another question. And he may need a lot of time to search that out, as I have.

I also never thought of it as a 2nd Reformation until I saw someone else say it in their blog site. And then I realized why that seems to be true! So I asked my friend, last night, what was the technological advancement that helped to cause the Reformation? He answered correctly about the invention of the Printing Press, which eventually got God’s Word into the hands of the common man, and the Catholic church could no longer control the knowledge the common people were learning!

So then I asked him what is the technological advancement that is having the same effect today? At first he did not get it. I don’t think he even had thought in terms of a 2nd Reformation going on. So I added, just as the Printing Press made new knowledge available to the masses of that day, what has done the same today? Then he got it. The Internet. But he still didn’t understand what the new knowledge was, until I explained to him I had been able to download 5000 pages of writing by early church fathers while setting in my recliner and never leaving my room! In ten seconds time I had the writings of people directly discipled by the Apostles themselves, and put into positions by the Apostles themselves, and all the knowledge they had shared, which for some reason our modern church has avoided sharing! This too is God’s Sword! God’s Sword is truth, knowledge, light! God is all about enlightenment in actual truth! LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Jesus said I have not come to bring peace into the world, but a sword! (Matt. 10:34) (A Sword of LIGHT!)

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

It had been a long time since my friend and I had had a conversation like that, where I had been able to speak of things most on my heart. His and my wife were visiting in another room and we were in the man-cave. They were talking children and shopping; we were talking hard steel and fire!

I had a special movie planned, and we brought in Chinese food and shared “Table” together. The “special” movie is a Christian film called: “Masterless”. Believe it or not, it is like a Samurai version of Pilgrim Progress! It’s a totally unique film that thinks outside the box. Of course, a Samurai Sword plays a big part in the show, as a Ronin Samurai seeks truth, and a master. I love this movie! I tried to show it to my friend over a year and half ago! But last night it finally happened! (Good things come to those who wait and pray!)

So…… Is there a 2nd Reformation going on? I believe there is. Human nature still the same, set up the same circumstances of new knowledge coming into the hands of the common person, history repeats itself, truth always having the same effect, the axe is poised over the modern day worldly church still heavily involved in sun worship, god of prosperity! (We even call it the Prosperity Gospel. How sad is that?)

Is there a Civil War just beginning to really be visible to the average eye? I believe there is. But I praise God that some of us have friendships able to survive even Civil Wars! After all, we are Christians, right? And we war different, right? Those who are true, do. Those who are not, may not! So watch out!

What a night it was for us. I still bask in the glow of the memory of it this morning. And today, we have another Baptism! My friend, Jason, who has been a devout Catholic all his life, now sees we need to get back to something predating both the Catholic and the Protestant churches! We need to get back to what Jesus DID! And he was not sprinkled! No more “short-forming” what Jesus DID! He was fully submerged under the water in a symbol of death! And the Lord’s “Supper” is a “Supper”! Not a tiny little white something and a tiny thimble of juice! How could our God of abundance ever call that a supper?

These things only touch the tip of the iceberg as to the “deep” changes it has caused in the church, and how far we have drifted from what Jesus DID. I have written of these details in many articles of this site. I hope to do a sidebar, soon, that list the articles specifically relating to the “journey” I have made in my own searching for answers. This will make it possible, notice I’m not saying “easy”, for a disciple must “learn”, and we’re not looking for “easy”, we’re looking for “light”, and this will make it “possible” for a true disciple, a true warrior, to make the very same journey I have made, “if they so desire”.

Welcome to “Fellowship of the White Path”. I am Grandpa White Feather. I seek for a tribe of “Godwalkers”, an Enoch people. May God Almighty Himself raise up such a people! He has! He is! And He continues to do so! So says Grandpa White Feather, a simple teacher of God’s Word.

3365  This lady had taken Samurai Sword lessons.

3367 Very proud Grandpa.

Sword of the Spirit

Path Without End

20180729_104851 It is a different path I teach, and like Jesus challenging the rich young ruler to give away his wealth, and inviting people to drink his blood, my words are not always easy to hear, or agree with. I’m realizing this more and more, and today is no exception. 

Per last article, where we made a trip to Georgia, performed a baptism, and bought grandson a Samurai sword. I have decided the “Sword of the Spirit” should be the next piece of our Armor of Light we examine. This armor is Christ Himself, whom we walk in.

I find it interesting the order of progression God has led us in our study of the spiritual armor. We began with the “Belt of Truth”, and considered it may be the most important piece because how can anything “not true” even begin to work? Truth is so vital to everything! That which is not true is not even real! But what is true?

From there we were led to the “Helmet of Salvation”, because the helmet covers our head, containing our brain, where we decide what is true and what we believe. We talked about the Matrix of our mind, our brain frame, and if we are living in REALITY, or not? And to this I might add, the “INVISIBLE” is more real than the “VISIBLE”. So says God. This is why God’s Word, our Sword, tells us to look at the INVISIBLE, not the VISIBLE. (II Cor. 4:18) But can we really live that way? Walking in the invisible?

Interesting, huh. This progression we have made. And why might God have us jump to the Sword next?

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT FAKE THE SWORD!

Anyone can put on armor, even hold a sword in their hand, and look like a warrior. However, let the enemy show up, let a real fight show up, and a warrior can no longer be FAKED! The Sword determines our REALNESS, or not! In a world loving virtual reality, the warrior still cannot be faked.

And let me ask this, What is a student who does not shine brighter, even unto the end?

You see, the Sword also demands a “student”. A person teachable. Learning the way of our Kingdom, our fighting style, spiritual warfare is a skill, and requires both a teacher and a student. Are we teachable? Are we creating disciples after Christ? Or are we living in a bunch of smoke and mirrors, a fake matrix of pretend, while seeking earthly things? Are we creating materialistic disciples in the name of Jesus?

“Endure suffering, along with me, as a good soldier (warrior) of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer (Jesus) who enlisted them.” (II Tim. 2:3-4)

Are we tied up in civilian things? Endure hardness? Are we a civilian or warrior? We will not fake it for long. Our daily actions will always give us away. Our prayer life. Our priorities. Our daily study. Our actual skill level. The belt we wear, somewhere between white and black, or still just white? Do we have a blue-light special Jesus? A cheap sword from China? Or are we REAL? Are we TRUE? Have we been the STUDENT? Have we been tempered in fire? Are we TEACHABLE? Have we proven we really want to KNOW and GROW? Do we live as a Priest/ Servant of Christ? What is our discipleship?

They say never take a gun, or knife, unless you’re willing to use it. Do you claim to be a disciple of that Word? Do you find these questions uncomfortable, or hard to answer? What do you really want? Are we materialistic disciples when Jesus challenged the young rich man to give away his wealth? Will the real Jesus please stand up.

I’m not preaching to live in poverty. The Lord’s prayer asks God to give us our “daily” bread. We should have enough. But how much is enough? When is enough enough?

I’m learning more and more every day that part of my mission from God is to preach REALITY in a virtual loving world. This does not gain me friends. I’m well aware of this. I may be considered negative on “money”, but I’m very positive on “simplicity”! My Teepee is to be a place of REALITY. At my Teepee we learn to depend on money less, and God more. Yes, Jesus really did teach such things. Will the real Jesus please stand up.

For example, the other day, and Churches do this all the time, but the other day a church youth group was taken on a great adventure in another state. They went camping, white water rafting, a swimming pool with some inflated pyramid to climb, and were taught biblical spiritual lessons while camping and hiking in the woods. Now I suppose this sounds like a very good thing, and I know how negative this makes me sound, as if simply trying to find fault, or be a party pooper, but does that church realize they are also teaching their youth to love money, because if you have money you can have great adventures? Have a lot of fun? Turn mother nature into a great big play ground? Is that the reality of nature? Or even God? Will the real Jesus please stand up.

Is this the only way to have fun in nature, by spending a lot of money? How many parents had to strain their budget so their child could go, and they were too embarrassed to ask for charity, so they added a little more to the credit card? Am I not supposed to ask such questions?

I did camping trips with youth, and we had a great time, but it was actually very affordable. Almost nothing! We had a lot of poor kids, and not enough rich people to possibly pay for kids to have an expensive outing. And it wasn’t necessary anyway! So the poor kids are left out? No… I’m sure someone came up with the money, (I hope), but here again, it’s back to the money.

That is not what my grandson is learning at the Teepee when he is splitting wood. And we have a good time! A great workout! We don’t even have a wood splitter. I may get one someday, just for when I get behind on the wood, but I want to use axe, sledge, and wedge for as long as I can! It helps keep me strong! So I can endure hardness! Does anyone else see what I’m saying, or am I alone in such a brain frame? Are we all looking for our “Participation Trophy”? Or is God calling us to be true spiritual athletes?

I’m sorry to say this same church, when I was jobless after back surgery, kept taking me out for breakfast after the early morning prayer meeting. Pastor liked to eat out, and not cheap places. So they picked up my ticket, and the pastor’s, often, because if you were to continue the fellowship you just about had to go, or go home. (Which I did sometimes.) But their generosity sounds very Christian, right? Only problem was I did not want to eat out. I always had food. We had plenty of food at home. What I really needed was our main vehicle fixed. It was dead of winter, extreme cold, and my wife was freezing as she drove to work. They knew this, but they kept buying me a breakfast I didn’t need!

I felt God was giving them an opportunity, and if they failed, he would eventually provide another way. Our tax returns finally came in, and I did my own work as I would have done anyway, but it got fixed, I found work, and life went on. But while buying me breakfast, they were missing the real need. How many times I wished I just had the money they spent on my breakfast! Maybe this sounds crazy to you, but when you’re poor, or even just temporarily in a hard spot, you have a different perception. Jesus ALWAYS saw the poor from their perspective.

My simple life style has kept me strong enough to climb one of those “climbing walls”. This last week, my son took us on post to a gym where there was a “military” climbing wall. We had a good time! And this was no sissy wall! This was the military. There was no participation trophy. You could either climb the wall or not. No faking it! Your body either reached the top, or not, and mine did! At age 62! Am I bragging? I don’t know how to praise the benefits of simplicity without telling this story. But a lot of people cannot climb that wall at 62. Maybe that don’t mean much, or maybe it does, but God is good and his pleasures can be found without much money. Are we training materialistic disciples, or those who seek first the Kingdom of God? Can we think outside the money box?

The first thing God spoke to me as I began considering our Sword is that a Sword is meant to be used by a Warrior! And spiritual warriors must live in the REALITY of God’s battlefield, where a love for money is a real danger! They know they must train if they are going to survive. And on a spiritual battlefield you must be strong, strong in the Lord! So what makes us stronger, and what makes us weaker? The Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy about not being “tied up” or entangled in civilian affairs. Think like a Warrior! Again, we link our Sword to our Helmet and Belt. Be ye transformed (into a warrior of Christ), by the renewing of your mind! But a student >“studies”!

Ouch! I heard yelps clear over here. Reality check! Bursting the matrix bubble! I don’t care if you go to a modern church or not, the real question is, are we living as Jesus “DID”? If that modern church is working for you in that way, then keep it up!

What good is a student who does not shine brighter every day, even unto the end? How do we live an ancient way in our modern day? These are all challenges to a warrior, and also a challenge to any false reality. While we look not at that which is seen, but that which is not seen. Your brain will not automatically think in these ways. It must go through training, be born-again. Perhaps that youth outing was great discipleship in Christ, or perhaps it was teaching to love fun and money, but this was the same church that was blasting Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller” in their parking lot for a neighborhood outreach. Whaaat? I know this makes this church sound awful, but by today’s standards, it’s actually one of the better churches! But I’m sorry, I just can’t stay silent about our modern church ways.

My matrix thinks a different way. Those who love money always seem to think in terms of money. It is hard for them to see outside that box. Nature has many lessons to offer, including survival. It also teaches simplicity, how to be content, how to thrive on less. Some people go into nature and die. Some manage to survive. But a few actually thrive! Because they have been a student, and they have proven themself teachable.

If you’re in a real contest with nature, money will mean nothing. You got what you can carry on your back. Beyond that, might as well leave the rest of your money at home. Mother nature does not care. But to be a part of this church outing, someone had to lay down cold hard cash. For these youth to experience that again, they will need more money. What is God’s church about? Will these kids be able to think outside the money box? Who in the church was struggling to pay their rent that week, while the youth went white water rafting?

Again, reality check. Is it our goal to disciple worldly Christians? Most churches would say “NO”. But what do their actions show? What does blasting “Thriller” on loud speakers say? I’m sorry if this sounds like a negative message, but you don’t play with Swords. They are sharp and will cut you. Warriors know this. I wish I could make truth more pleasant, but it’s only pleasant for those really seeking truth. And it’s only unpleasant for those who don’t want to know the truth. They want to stay in a false matrix, a lie. Is this true or not? Have I said anything that is not true according to the teachings of Christ? (Your Bible. Your Sword.)

Here’s another reality check: The Sword of the Spirit is a whole book on absolute truth, in which a true warrior can take such knowledge, train himself, apply it, and “thrive” on the battlefield. But thriving is not how big a pile of money you may have. Not on God’s battlefield. It’s more about the demons who lie defeated at your feet. That’s what a Sword is for. It’s about dispatching the enemy. We are not just the blessed, we are the bloody and blessed, covered in the blood of the Lamb. But will we study? Will we learn and change? Are we teachable?

I know this is warrior talk, and I have probably scared many away. Jesus did the same in his day, when he spoke of his blood. He scared many away with things he said. But we are talking about the Sword. Should I sugar coat a Sword? Will the real Jesus please stand up.

I have a saying of being Samurai for Christ. It’s an analogy, like Paul used the Roman Olympic games as an analogy. He spoke of an athlete training to win! The true Samurai lived for his Lord (Shogun), and by his sword. He lived and died by his sword. So do Christians. Jesus said those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. Was he saying not to have a sword? Or be wise in the Sword you choose to live and die by? (As the example he himself set, and many of our early church brothers and sisters.)

The knowledge contained in our Bible is about learning to thrive in the world we cannot see, a world that does not function according to flesh and blood, a world God says is more true than this physical mortality. We cannot afford to think like the world, because it simply will not work where we are going, nor where we already are. The ways of this world only lead to a wasted life in the Kingdom of God. This is truth. This is God’s reality. Be careful when your ways actually make sense to the world.

This is only the beginning of our look at the Sword, and our continued examination of REALITY. It seems God’s Armor has a whole lot to say about our perceived reality. But if we want to be free…seek truth. God’s Armor of Light is all about living FREE…unchained…untied…in the liberty of Spirit…as the eagle, not the sparrow.

This has been a long one, but there is much here to consider. Are we doing what Jesus did? Somehow, it just doesn’t look the same to me. Perhaps I’m chicken little crying that the sky is falling? Or perhaps not? As I warned at the beginning, my words are not always easy to hear, or agree with; but do they agree with what Jesus did? If so…?

warfare

 

Are you “STRONG” in the Lord?

Path Without End

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Welcome to “Fellowship of the White Path”, path without end, and I mean that literally, because I am going to start sharing what we are teaching in our group meetings. Small though we be, like the wren in my story of Flapless, we think big, we think outside the box, and God has laid it on my heart to make the teachings of our meetings available for anyone who is teachable and has a heart to learn. We all like to think we are strong in the Lord, but are we?

My last two articles were about a spiritual surrender to God’s Holy Wind. To live like the sailboat, not the motorboat; and the eagle, not the sparrow. But in our Fellowship we are about to look at what it means to be “Strong in the Lord”. And true to what I previously wrote, as I was in morning prayers my Lord impressed with a Wind current saying, “Make the teachings of the Fellowship available to whosoever will.” (I knew God meant the blogsite, because our group meetings already are available to whosoever will.)

When it comes to the Fellowship, God told me not to worry about the numbers. You might remember David got in serious trouble with God when he numbered the people. God says “He” adds to the Church those who should be saved. He tells us we can sow and water, but the “increase” is His responsibility. What He “IS” concerned about, that thing that “IS” our responsibility, is how we are growing His spiritual children. What is our discipleship? What are we teaching? What kind of pastures are we leading the sheep to for grazing in? What kind of warriors are we growing? This “IS” our responsibility >

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the Apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors, and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-12)

 These verses are immediately followed by scriptures explaining about “unity” and no longer being like “immature children”. Clearly the “building up” that is spoken of has to do with “spiritual growth and discipleship”, rather than a concern for “numbers”. God says we have this responsibility of how we raise the children.

So…I surrender to the Wind, and I have no concern about numbers, but I am very concerned about where I lead people to graze! And the thing that breaks my heart everywhere I turn, the need I see that is so great, is an understanding of our PRIESTHOOD! Our spiritual armor is directly connected to our priesthood. Are we strong in the Lord?!

The reason we are so prone to the “7 Deadly Sins”, ( and yes, we are officially back into that topic), is because the king has no clothes! We CANNOT take God’s Armor of Light for granted and expect to be strong in the Lord. You simply are not! I want to look at that armor as it relates to our priesthood in Christ. Jesus said the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. If their is no armor covering your flesh, because you have not developed such disciplines, then you are weak! But you can be strong, if your teachable.

420px-Gospelofpeace

I find myself emphasizing that question so much in this modern day. Are you teachable? What is God’s wilderness and what is his Promised Land of faith and Spirit? Most of that first generation died in the wilderness. The old man had to die! The old man understands little of God’s true Promised Land.

The book of Ephesians will be our main focus. I will be taking our “Fellowship of the White Path” through this very article I am writing. You will be reading the same material I will share with them. I like the above picture of spiritual armor, but I actually picture our armor as something more like this next picture.

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Of course this is the Marvel character of Ironman. This character is fiction, but our Armor of Light is not. If God has made something even greater than the imagination that spawned Ironman, if he has made such armor available to us, and indeed, encased us within it, then what is the proper care and maintenance thereof? How do we keep this armor fully charged? For scriptures make it plain that we can be drained. Just ask the five foolish virgins.

Also consider this, Satan sees the invisible. We do not. You may not see yourself walking around encased in a sacred armor, but Satan does. He also sees those who are walking around naked, or near to naked. While we look not at that which is seen! Always consider what Satan sees more than what your flesh and blood eyes perceive.

This is where I’m taking our little flock of Fellowship of the White Path to graze. Our focus Bible book will be Ephesians. Our focus questions will be: 1.) How do I stay strong in the Lord? 2.) Am I teachable? 3.) What charges this armor and keeps it at full power? 4.) What is this Priesthood thing I’ve been born into by the blood of Christ?

I have never been a part of role play games such as Dungeons and Dragons, and whatever else is out there, including the many video games. I know little of these things, except they can be poisonous and consume much time. But I have learned some games have the “Priest” character, and as such they have certain powers. How many of us have neglected the powers of our Priesthood in out pursuit of an earthly kingdom, a false theology of kingship? Is that all you know in Christ? Has that been your focus? Priesthood is more powerful than any false teaching of kingship. How well do you know the powers of Priesthood? God’s favor about us as a shield, as Armor!

Well… that’s where Grandpa White Feather is leading his little flock. God has promised our needs will be met. That is what God hath said. He has also said there are many mansions “in heaven”. I’m not in heaven yet, and neither is my flock. Paul accused one group of people that they had begun to reign without him! I’ll stay with Paul, thank you, because he stayed with Jesus. This is where Fellowship of the White Path is going, and you can go with us if you like, right here at “Path Without End”. I don’t know how many of you God is speaking to, to follow? That does not matter to me. Not my responsibility in a time when people seek someone to itch their ear. But where we are going. That’s what concerns me. That’s where God will hold me accountable. Not for numbers, but for what this teacher teaches.

John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, ushering in the coming of Christ. History is repeating.

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The Tides of Time

Path Without End

20180521_121426 This is where I was a few days ago, and 35 years ago. I was 27 then, and 62 now. What a leap. Whiplash! A place called Tybee Island. I was a trained warrior 35 years ago, just out of Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, and then stationed at Fort Gordon for schooling. I am also a trained warrior now, always have been, my chosen lifestyle, but more spiritual than physical.

The spiritual has always been more important to me, but as I slowly waded in the waves that day, the passage of so much time, I was reminded of why the spiritual is so. “TIME”…the soul does not age…only the flesh…don’t lose your soul to sand…build upon that which is ageless…this is spiritual wisdom.

I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of more time. As the sand moved away under the heels of my feet, every wave sweeping away, but not so much under my toes for some reason. My heels sank quickly with every wave. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Hhmmm, interesting. Mortality.

My brain strained to feel the 35 years. Here I was walking and I felt fine. 27 or 62? Which am I? If I began running on the beach my brain would quickly realize, but just walking? It didn’t seem real. It didn’t seem like 35 years could possibly have passed. 35 years of living, just a vapor, as scripture says. It’s hard to grasp vapor. It’s hard to feel it, and yet the reality was I’m no longer 27, and though I love her greatly, my wife is no longer the sexy beauty queen she was that day, either. I could still see her all those years ago, even her hairstyle and bathing suit. She was there, though I made this trip alone.

20180516_164105 White Feather Mobile.

My wife, Grandma Turtle Faith, (Grandma? Wow.), was “flown” down to Georgia to babysit grandkids while their parents took a cruise. I drove down a week later. Now I was driving home in my beat-up 97 Honda Civic. A car Turtle Faith Lady refuses to ride in. She would be returning home same way she came, (flown), but she didn’t get to enjoy Tybee Island. So Chief White Feather walked the sands of time alone this day.

Ladies…White Feather speaks here…a Grandpa speaks here…make sure that guy loves you for who you are. It won’t take long, and soon, though you still have much beauty, more beautiful women will be all around, the younger and perhaps more physically blessed. But if he really loves “YOU”. If he is the “RIGHT” one. As time goes by he will love you, and the family you both grow, even more. But that won’t be true if you allow yourself to be swept away in nothing but lust. Great heartache will likely be your future. You deserve better. You owe it to yourself, your children, and God to have better.

So…this is simply a short message today. For you older folks, perhaps you have an experience of your own like this? (Or a car like mine?) A special place you have not been in many many years. A place where you were young, and decades later circumstances of life dropped you off to remember. A place where youth is your memory, and age is your reality. But I really enjoyed that whole experience, even as I relive it now in the writing. If anyone would like to share such an event of their own, I would love to hear. Others would like to hear also, even those still young.

If you’re still too young for this amazing experience, I hope you live long enough to know one day. Put it on your “Bucket List”. It’s too good to miss. Let God bless you with this. And think about “TIME”. Think about it now. You’re not too young.

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Where are the Bruce Lees of Christianity?

Path Without End

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” (I Cor. 9:25)

When did we settle? When did we lose interest in mastery? When did we decide “good enough” was “good enough”? When did we lose the fire that creates someone like an Apostle Paul, or a Bruce Lee?

Is there anything more important than eternity? And yet we have settled for the temporary, lost interest in the Spirit, slid into complacency and compromise, and we are no longer on the warrior’s journey.

We need an awakening.

In just a few more weeks the newest episode of “Star Wars” hits the big screens. I still remember when the last one was coming out. remember what they were saying? “There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?”

Have you achieved Black Belt in your Christianity? Is that a weird thing to ask? What do you think Paul is talking about when he is speaking of striving for mastery? Have you decided a brown belt, or even white, is good enough for eternal things? Good enough for God? Good enough for now?

This series is meant to be motivational. It’s meant to light a fire under our pathetic spiritually fat butt and wake us up! I can assure you the devil is fully awake, but are we? Can anyone write anything that might light our fire again? Can mere words stir us with a vision of climbing God’s mountain of mastery?

I don’t know. Perhaps I write this only for myself, to keep myself on fire!

I had a strange thing happen to me when I was 38. I was at a movie about the life of Bruce Lee: “Dragon”. I was there alone. I didn’t need company to enjoy something about Bruce Lee. He amazed me. There was something about his devotion and dedication to the warrior’s path that always inspired me.

I was shocked when he suddenly died. Now they were making movies about him, and this actor was pretty good. In the dark of that theater I was really getting into it, really enjoying it, totally focused, when out of nowhere I could have sworn I heard a voice say: “Why don’t you let me teach you Black Belt Christianity?” That question changed my life from that point on. It even changed what I saw in the rest of the movie. Every Chinese Kung Fu movement became, what is the spiritual equivalent of that?

Weird huh. Yes, unusual. And whether I heard a real voice or not, it was powerful enough it changed the trajectory of my life. It was the closest thing to hearing an actual verbal voice I have ever come. It was a personal encounter I cannot prove. The life I have lived since that time is the only evidence I have to offer that it was real. Obviously, whether real or not, it was real to me. And so perhaps I have a little different slant on things I teach from God’s Word. My path with God has been different than the “Bible College” path. Consider these verses in the NLT.

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (I Cor. 9:24-27)

Recently I started watching a 50 episode Netflix series on the life of Bruce Lee. Fifty episodes! I can’t think of anyone else such an extensive work has been done about. Not all in one series like this. But I must say it took me back to that day in the theater, and it reminded me of how I have kept the fire burning in my belly ever since.

Bruce Lee was an apostle, an ambassador for Chinese Kung Fu, and his Jete Kune Do. (Maybe I got that right.) At any rate, he was fully dedicated and devoted. He showed us what a true warrior is. It’s not hard to translate Bruce Lee’s example, or the Apostle Paul’s example into the circumstances of my own life. Am I a warrior for the Kingdom of God, having true effect against evil principalities scripture tells us about? Have I sought mastery? Or is it good enough to simply be the Christian civilian that the warriors have to constantly protect and rescue?

In this series I plan to use not only Bruce Lee and the warrior’s journey as an analogy, but I also want to use Star Wars and the need of a true Word of God awakening! What has God actually said?!

In another place the Apostle Paul challenged Timothy to endure hardness as a true soldier (warrior) of Jesus Christ. Do we know this hardness? Are we on fire? Where do we start?

I hope these writings will inspire. I pray they will motivate us all. And where should we start? What is the mastery we seek? Our power is in our Priesthood. We need to learn how to walk with God. Not a Skywalker, but a Godwalker, an Enoch people. I hope you’re with me on this warrior’s journey. I intend to inspire myself, but I hope I’m not the only crazy person that feels this way and sees these things.

I may write several things over the next 4 days, so stay tuned. We’re just getting started.

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