About shepherdbryan

My passion is to disciple and see men discipled in every area of their life to see the multiplication principle actually work in a 100 year generational blessing. As go men in the church, so goes the church. As go men in the nation, so goes the nation. Fortunately, because men have often not taken their spiritual role to the limit, God has raised up many godly women to carry the torch where men have laid it aside. May God rapidly raise up men for the next generation of leaders to the Fourth Generation of spiritual leaders! As men lead in a godly way, women will follow in a godly way and that people will be blessed of the Lord.

SGL: How do you know when your home group is healthy?

Posted on March 15, 2014 by shepherdbryan

The purpose of home groups is to multiply, and that is a sign of good health. However, it can be deceptive what good health is. For example, one group may enjoy getting together, because they love to study “last day events.” Or another group may like to gather, because their relationships are so strong. Yet, in both of these incidents, while there might be a growth in head knowledge or social activities, there is very little discipleship and no multiplication. In both cases the home groups are not healthy, because they are not multiplying through discipleship. So what makes a healthy home group?

Continue reading →

Suffering: Are There Some who Deserve to Suffer? Part 2

Posted on March 14, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is Part 2 in the article, “Are There Some who Deserve to Suffer?” of the larger question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Part 1 was posted yesterday.

Should People be Saved from Themselves?

Then there is the question, “How do we protect people from themselves?” Do they deserve to suffer because of foolish decisions made either purposely or naively? Do we ask God to suspend natural laws like gravity? Or the second law of thermodynamics (the premise that conditions naturally get worse instead of better)? Is God obligated to prevent the naturally occurring results of heredity because children are innocent? Then do we expect Him to save man from the indignities of others? Should God allow free will, but not the effects and consequences of that free will on others? Who is the judge? Continue reading →

Suffering: Are There Some who Deserve to Suffer? Part 1

Posted on March 13, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is Part 1 in the article, “Are there some who deserve to suffer?” in the larger project answering the question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.

Now, this is a loaded question – “Are there some who deserve to suffer?” Anyone who is honest can admit to a fleshly moment when he wished suffering on someone else-even if it was just as a little boy angry at another boy for bullying or getting the upper hand in an “unfair” way! Then think of all the brutal dictators who have been mentioned in previous chapters – those who have caused thousands and millions of deaths. Certainly they deserve to suffer! Continue reading →

Book Review: Astronomy by Answers in Genesis

Posted on March 12, 2014 by shepherdbryan

“Astronomy” concisely addresses the Biblical perspective of the big bang, formation of stars, black holes and measuring the age of the universe by the stars. It starts with the premise that the Bible was written by the Author, or Creator, of the universe and seeks explanations for questions that perplex man. Those who believe in billions of years use the same evidence as those who believe the universe is around 6000 years old, but because their premise for understanding is different (billions of years), their explanations are at direct odds to creationists. Continue reading →

Insights: Character far exceeds Ability in God’s View – Part 2

Posted on March 11, 2014 by shepherdbryan

In the previous article, I discussed the importance of reaching the heart over forcing the hands to complete tasks. In other words, you can force behavioral change in a person, but if you don’t reach the heart, the change will not be long-lasting and the task completion will be done out of duty rather than a desire to please. Continue reading →

Insights: Character far exceeds Ability in God’s View – Part 1

Posted on March 10, 2014 by shepherdbryan

I am a doer. I like to get things done, keep things organized and NOT spend time looking for them. I don’t like to waste time looking for them. Some people call that being a Type A personality; I call it someone you can rely upon to get things done. Continue reading →

Insights: If I Wanted

Posted on March 9, 2014 by shepherdbryan

I was blessed to have a few days to drive over with my bride to North Carolina this last week. We enjoyed a few hours walking through the Biltmore Estate, spending a few quality hours with our nephew at Fort Bragg, a few hours with a seminary friend and pastor in Fayetteville, N.C and then a few hours with Barbara’s cousin in Raleigh, N.C. The time spent with family and friends was a greater blessing than the miles driven and the three different places to sleep!

Continue reading →

Suffering: Is it fair that a loving God allows people to suffer at all? Part 3

Posted on March 8, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This concludes the postings for the question, “Is it fair that a loving God allows people to
suffer at all?” in the larger series answering the question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Parts one and two were posted in the previous two days.

Echoing Questions

Is it fair that a loving God would allow people to suffer at all? Couldn’t He have created a world in which there was no pain? After, He did say after the sixth day of creation, “It was very good!” (Gen. 1:31). If the creature was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26; 2:7), that is “God-like,” wouldn’t that mean there would be no suffering? And when a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation and he becomes a new creation, why does there have to be suffering (2 Cor. 5:17)? Continue reading →

Suffering: Is it fair that a loving God allows people to suffer at all? Part 2

Posted on March 7, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is part two in answering the question, “Is it fair that a loving God allows people to
suffer at all?” in the larger series answering the question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Part three will be posted tomorrow.

What Should Our Response be to Horrific Types of Suffering?

Many families silently deal with these pressures. For example, what about those who were caught in the Nazi Holocaust? How should families deal with loved ones under a Hitler type of brutality? Elie Wiesel suffered gruesomely at Birkenau (also known as Auschwitz II) and recalled children consumed by the flames. He found it repulsive to worship a God who allowed such suffering, in fact a God who offended him, Continue reading →

Suffering: Is it fair that a loving God allows people to suffer at all? Part 1

Posted on March 6, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is the first part answering the question, “Is it fair that a loving God allows people to suffer at all?” in the larger series dealing with the question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Parts 2 and 3 will be posted over the next two days.

Is it Fair?

Is it fair “at all” that creatures have to suffer? I remember as a child talking to my mother and she was having a particularly difficult time with her number two son (me!). I remember saying, “But mom, I didn’t ask to be born! How come I have to do all these chores? Other boys don’t have to do all I have to do! It’s not fair!” Do you remember saying (or thinking) something like that? Wow! Rather than asking my mother, “Mom, I know I’m here on earth and there must be a purpose. How can I better understand the reason for doing chores and the pain of doing stuff I don’t want to do?” But, like most people, I was just a kid and was learning to grow up! Continue reading →

Shepherding Truth

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