Author Archives: shepherdbryan

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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.

Book Review: Raising Chickens for Dummies by Kimberly Willis and Rob Ludlow.

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Raising Chickens for Dummies  by Kimberly Willis and Rob Ludlow.  Why am I reading a book on chickens?  If you’re following my Book Reviews, you caught that I just read a great book on raising goats, and chickens and rabbits are the other two animals I’d like to add to my “family” someday.  I’d love to teach my grandchildren about animal husbandry, but I’ve got to understand it first! 

It’s certainly not something someone from the city can wish to do one day and actually do it the next.  There is an incredible amount of information to learn and experience to gain.  I’m not there in either category, but I’d love to learn and gain, while I shepherd people. 

“Raising Chickens for Dummies” is no quick read.  In other words, it isn’t 35 pages and you are supposed to know everything.  It’s 370 pages of good information, without much white space or pictures.  It’s well written and covers the gamut of chickens, but I’d be concerned that after a week of experience, I’d need to spend time re-reading this book in the pertinent areas.  It’s an impressive organization of instruction, advice and warnings from choosing what kinds of chickens you might want from the type of housing and finally the management of handling “Layers” and “Meat Birds.” 

I’ll leave this review very short, because it’s so different from most of the books I read, but off this quick note so that you might consider broadening your horizon of what you read and even consider one day you might want a few chickens for yourself (if your housing codes and covenants allow them).  I do wish the book had more pictures on the suggested structures to be built and handling of the chickens.  There is repetition in explanations, but it is helpful for those who pick and choose what portions of the book are needed.  The authors have done a nice work in repeating what needs to be repeated to ensure you won’t miss something important if you only read chapters 7, 9 or 12 by themselves.  Check out www.backyardchickens.com for more information on raising chickens.

Legalism considered

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Last night at my discipleship meeting the question was asked, “Do unbelievers practice legalism, or is what they do just heresy?”  I was vague in my answer, thinking that legalism is just for believers in trying to please God and an unbeliever cannot do anything to please God ever.  Therefore it wouldn’t be legalism and just heresy.  But re-thinking it I considered the four principles for legalism I mentioned on Sunday:      
     ·       Legalism is an attitude normally seen in actions.
      ·         Legalism is related to how a person approaches God.
      ·         Legalism imposes rules on the conscience, which hinders a relationship with God.
      ·         Legalism seeks to earn or deserve God’s favor based on obedience to law or rules.

I realized that that is what the Pharisees were doing and they were unbelievers (except for a few like Nicodemus, who eventually trusted in Jesus).  The Pharisees imposed  rules on the conscience (traditions of the elders) and they sought to earn God’s favor based on their obedience to the rules.  What they did was legalism.

God is never obligated to you or me based on what you or I do.  It is His Sovereign mercy that we’ll see this Sunday by which we experience any blessing in life. God only obligates Himself to His Word and His character.  He does not obligate Himself to us.  He is God.

But doesn’t God bless me when I obey Him? Jesus tells a great account about this in Luke 17:6-10,

6So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,`Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field,`Come at once and sit down to eat ‘? 8 “But will he not rather say to him,`Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink ‘? 9 “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say,`We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'”

This is so telling of the sovereign holiness of God.  Notice that last line.  When we obey God, we have only done what was our duty to do.  There is no obligation from God.  He only obligates Himself to what He has said (in His Word) and to His character. I’ll post some principles very soon on how to deal with legalism.

Book Review: Your Goats: A Kid’s Guide to Raising the Showing by Gail Damerow

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Your Goats: A Kid’s Guide to Raising and Showing by Gail Damerow is a great starter book on Hobby Farm investigation.  Okay, okay, I admit this is a strange book for me to do a review on, but in my interest for having a Hobby Farm, I’m trying to read a few books related to it.  I went down to my uncle’s farm for a week at a time each summer, but I never grew up on the farm.  I always enjoyed the life, but doing anything for a week, does not equate with expertise or experience.  Hence, I better read before I think I can join Green Acres.

This is a great book discussing goat husbandry at a teen level.  It is right where I am and I needed something simple to get me started.  I had a blast reading about how to think like a goat, what kind of housing I would need to provide, breeding goats, milking them, raising them for meat and making them a part of the overall family plan for future generations. 

There are better books with more detail, other books with better pictures, but this is just right to spark my interest to press for more information if God were to allow some husbandry in the future.  Goats, chickens and rabbits will never take the enjoyment I get from ministering with people, but if it works out in the future, I’m ready to try my overalls again.

Book Review: Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth

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Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth.  If I had known the content of this book, I might not have read it.  I wouldn’t be characterized as a “tree hugger.”  Yet, I also am not the kind of person that wastes things, normally.  I try to be a good steward of the resources God brings into my life.  Surprisingly, Matthew Sleeth’s approach created a thirst to understand a different approach to stewarding God’s creation.

Several points caught my attention and put me at ease. First, I realized that we Americans are wasteful beyond description.  We fill up so many trash cans of garbage, that would probably be homes, food and clothing to many in the third world.  Some of my American amigos might think they deserve it.  If I was equipped to compost, reuse and distribute to those who could use my garbage, I might save an incredible amount of earth resources and dollars in terms of man hours needed to haul and bury my garbage. 

Secondly, many Americans think they need every electronic gadget to entertain themselves 24/7.  I’m not against the use of electricity, but we’re probably not getting enough facetime  as much as facebook time.  to others in godly fellowship and the resources needed to produce the electricity may just be poor stewardship of the Lord’s provision.  Am I concerned about running out of resources?  No.  We will likely figure out another resource, but am I using up resources for me or for the sake of reaching others for the sake of the gospel?

Thirdly, all our stuff ultimately can control us.  We amigos don’t have enough room in our three car garages, so we rent monthly space just to store more stuff!  After a year’s worth of storage, that stuff loses a tremendous amount of value due to storage costs (it may still be worth x amount, but I’ve spent  y amount storing it that I could have used to foster relationships for the kingdom of God.  Then I think about all the time it takes to clean, wash, wax, polish, paint, wash, organize, shelf, dust and organize, I can see I have a whole lot less time to reach my neighbors for the gospel.  Is it just so we feel good that we have this stuff?

Fourthly, all our stuff is likely allowing individuals in families to be – individual.  We don’t need to interact, because we each have all our own stuff to do what we want.  How does that foster a multi-generational blessing?

Fifthly, we have so much stuff we don’t have time to take a day of rest and worship the Lord or just enjoy each other.  Watching television allows someone else to tell me what reality is rather than exploring the world around me and finding out what God has wonderfully made available within a day’s walk.  Television becomes mental junk food and that often leads to wasting time in front of computer screens consuming our mental energy instead of spurring our spirit to an intimate relationship with the Lord.  These and many other challenging thoughts are making me rethink my modus operandi.

I appreciate the challenge of this book.  It’s one in which in the next few months I will read again and see if my brain mass should have different brain ruts than what currently exist.  I’m slightly aware that I may have been a little too self-centered in my stewardship of God’s creation and foolish in my liberty.  May God have mercy on us all!

Question: How much do you help someone?

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Question: How do you discern whether to help someone?

How would you counsel someone who has the means to financially help an adult family member who lives in squalor by choice due to poor financial (and spiritual) choices, poor health (physical & mental), choosing not to work, etc?  Do you counsel to take care of the person’s needs or let the State help?  What do you consider about helping the family member or withdrawing support? 

I go back and forth between Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 5:8, which admonishes those who do not support family members as “being worse than an unbeliever” if you don’t take care of your family and others which caution giving help, such as “throwing pearls before swine,” which obviously directly refers to not giving Scripture to scoffers, but the application of support can be derived from this.  Where do you draw the line or do you draw the line (as a Christian)? Are you really helping by helping or just breeding more sin? Will either choice really have eternal consequences for them or for you? 

These are very difficult questions. 1) it involves family, so the emotions are going to be tested and 2) you’re using passages of Scripture that must be compared with each other, because no one passage gives the simple answer.
My answer is only based on the information you’ve provided and I’m not sure I have all the facts that are needed, but here are some thoughts. I know you are seeking His righteousness (Matt. 6:33) and are looking for discernment (Heb. 5:14). You’ll know in your conscience based on the leading of the Holy Spirit and grace (Titus 2:11-13), what to do. At least, make the best choice before the Lord based on what you know from Scripture in each circumstance. 

You mentioned that he is living that way by choice. That is my key. If it is his choice, then I need to remember 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 

I recognize that my resources must be considered in grace 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him” but considering 2 Thessalonians 3:10, it would be for someone who is willing to work, but has hit hard times and needs legitimate help.  

I can in grace provide help in mercy (Rom. 2:4-5; Jam. 2:13), but if his choice is not to work, then I may be playing the fool and getting in God’s way of letting his hunger drive him to work Pro 16:26, “The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.” I may be getting in God’s way of divine discipline.  

On the other hand, if no one has discipled the person and they foolishly made the poor decisions, but WANT to do the right thing, then financial help may get them back on their feet. But if they are in the downward spiral of Ephesians 4:17-19, then I would be getting in God’s way. The key for me would be, does he want to do the godly thing (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22). 

If he turns to the state, he’s still choosing to not work and the state is foolish to enable someone to continue in their foolish ways. That brings a curse on any people and we are deep into foolishness regarding some of our welfare support, etc. I certainly understand the tension of “being worse than an unbeliever” 1 Tim. 5:8. 

Yet I struggle with “dead while she lives” (not living in a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ) (1 Tim. 5:6). If she, the widow, who is in physical, financial need is dead in her relationship with Christ, then no help should be given, unless there is repentance. Of course there is room for mercy as your conscience might direct. I would agree that helping someone who doesn’t want help is throwing pearls before swine. That is a person who is in the seventh stage of the downward spiral (Eph. 4:17-19).
Do a search on the biblical word “lazy” and it is not a pleasant view. Proverbs 20:4 describes his consequences. To help people like that who are not humble seems to be enabling someone in his sin. To continue to help someone in his sin without rebuke and restoration seems to have eternal consequences of a loss of reward for that person.  

We have a burden to disciple those who are hungering for truth as you do with all the young people. There will be many who will refuse that help and their consequences should drive them to brokenness and help from the Lord. (Ps. 51:16-17)
I wish I could give you a one sentence answer, but this is too big of an issue. Interesting, I had another case last week about a family in the church dealing with a family member in a marriage relationship. One spouse was willing to work, but the man was not. They could not support themselves and were continuing to make unwise decisions that keep them in the downward spiral. Sometimes I think the enemy tries to use Scripture to put a guilt complex on us to do what you said, “throw pearls before swine [even our own family]” and take away from resources that could be used to help those who are hungering for truth and righteousness.

 

Are you ready?

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When I lived in Minnesota in 1989, we had 14 inches of rain.  The rain cascaded down the neighbor’s yard into our window wells and that poured into our basement.  We were fortunate it only rose to about four inches on the basement floor.  I can’t imagine what the 25 inches in Florida this week would have been like!

Every once in a while I think about the woods we live in and wonder if it ever caught fire if I would get out the chain saw as quick as possible and drop several trees to keep the fire away from the house.  I can’t imagine what living in the Waldo Canyon of Colorado Springs would be like where hundreds lost their homes due to 65 mph winds and triple digit temperature.

Are you ready?  Are you ready for the circumstances of life to stand your ground spiritually?  You won’t know what the enemy might throw at you.  We fight not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces (Eph. 6:12).  Unseen.  You all know that means you can’t see them and may not know what kind of ploy the demonic realm may be hurtling your way!  Are you ready?

You can only be ready 1) if you are equipped with God’s word to stand firm with the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-18); 2) if you are being equipped with God’s word to stand against the trickery of man and deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:12-14); and 3) if you are filled with God’s Spirit – totally dependent on His leading, empowerment and strength (Zech 4:6).

We live in unusual times and we must be ready.  There is little time to waste.  No one in Florida or Colorado knew what they’d be facing this week.  What are you going to face next week?  Are you preparing this week so you will stand firm?

War on Poverty Man’s Way

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            In 1965 Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty when 15% of America was under the “poverty” level.  His “deal” became a raw deal, because man will never solve his problems without the Grace of God.  We now spend 668 billion dollars per year on 126 programs.  We are still at the same level of poverty of 15%. God is not a part of the program. If you leave God out of any solution, you’ll have a temporary fix at best and a deceitful money pit of misery at worst.

            When a repentant woman came into a dinner engagement and anointed Jesus’ head with a very costly oil of spikenard, the indignant criticized her for this seemingly waste of resources.  Jesus told them to leave her alone and then said, “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”  (Mark 14:7)  Jesus didn’t say, don’t help the poor, but you may do them good.  He also said they would always be with you.  In other words, we ought to do good by helping, but always in the name of Jesus, so Jesus is the reason for our help to them and they know the reason for the help they receive.  But we should also know that money and resources in themselves are not the solution to poverty as the raw deal has shown.

            Am I against the support the poor receive from the government?  Not really.  I believe the church should be the source of help, but the church is at a point, where it can hardly take care of its own.  Unfortunately, the government welfare level of support has risen 41% in the last three years alone, an astronomical figure and still there is no change to godliness or upward mobility of the poor.  The only true answer is a change of heart and seeking after God’s way.  Money has become one of the “gods of this age.”  People think money will solve theirs and the world’s problems.  It never will and never was meant to solve problems.

            What we can do is reach out to the poor through intentional outreach.  Grace does that through Servant’s Heart, individual ministries and the newly formed Outreach Ministry Team. Who can you tell about your relationship with Jesus Christ?

Life Bears Witness

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This morning, I had the privilege of preparing Logan, Collin and Cody with their dad Brady for the baptism that we’ll have on July 8.  We talked about faith, salvation, baptism and a number of other important subjects to ensure they were ready.  One of the subjects was “what should be true in a believer’s life after salvation.”  After salvation, there should be some kind of transformation, because the unbeliever transforms into a believer, a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

I illustrated to the boys with a simple example.  I said if the three boys came into my office and took the pictures and objects and threw them against the wall, I asked them if would they be reflecting their dad or someone else.  Collin immediately said, “The devil.” (He’s going to be a pastor some day!)  I said, “That’s right, because your dad would never do something like that.  When you are respectful of other people’s property, you are reflecting your dad, who is in the place of God, and not the devil.”  I went on to say that if a believer did come in and destroyed the office, they would be reflecting what the devil does, because he comes to murder and destroy.  It’s often a reality that believers act like their former father the devil, rather than their heavenly father (cf. 1 John 3:7-8).

Jesus was confronted by Jews who wanted to kill Him for claiming that God was His Father.  Rather than defend Himself, He said, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” (John 10:31)  Obviously, His works reflected the Father and not anyone else.

Whom do you reflect in your works (your life)?  Do you reflect one who is devoted to, pursuing and enjoying the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or do your works (your life) reflect something other than one pursuing the Lord?  Press ahead to Him in His upward calling (Phil. 3:14).

Book Review: Hurt 2.0 by Chap Clark.

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Hurt 2.0  by Chap Clark.  I was drawn to this, because I like young people.  I wanted to understand them.  I no longer am young and they will be the avenue for the future, so it’s important for me and others to understand in order to disciple.  I was hoping for more theology; this is definitely a sociological study.  It’s still worth the read.  While he doesn’t teach the theology of youth, he does present who the youth are today and suggests what should be done.  A wise Christian will take his word and enter into the youth world in order to transmit the gospel for God to transform the youth culture.  To avoid it is foolishness and an abandonment of godly principles.

When I first started reading, I was put off.  It was far more detail than what I was interested in. However, I realized, Chap Clark is making observations and they seem true.  He’s spent the time that I do not have to find transparent youth who mirror their generation.  Chap Clark engaged the youth culture, done an incredible amount of research and then assembled that research into helpful portions that address landscape of the youth rising up to maturity.  Who are they?  What do they want? And what is their world like?

When I was a youth in the 60s, my world was totally different than today.  We did not have cell phones, emails, DVDs or game boxes.  The isolation, family abandonment and individualism of society of today wreaks havoc on the stability for youth.  Divorce, drugs, immorality and perversion is far more rampant today than 40 years ago.  Consequently, the youth have far more to deal with and need a more available ear.  Chap writes about the changes in adolescence jargon (a term I really don’t like, but have to accept), the whole notion of abandonment and how it develops.  The dark world the teen adolescent lives in is far more confusing than my relatively simple world.

There are many things that are the same, but Chap says they’re different.  Peers, school, family, sports, sex and ethics are some of the things that have changed.  For example, today students “believe that “teachers do not even deserve the benefit of the doubt and that, instead, teachers must earn the respect of students by showing them respect first.” (p. 83)  Did the emphasis on self-esteem over the last thirty years produce this perverted thinking?  Regarding family, “The academic and popular debates adults have wages over the definition, meaning and impact of the family have taken a toll on the young.  What has happened with the notion of and attitude toward the family is perhaps the most significant form of cultural abandonment midadolescents have endured.” (p. 93)  So much that “…those who had learned (or were learning) to use their bodies to find comfort and connection through sexual play were trying to prove to themselves and to the world that they were worthy of love.”  Remove God from a person’s life and of course all they go by is their senses and especially their feelings.  He goes on to cite an article from the American Psychological Association, “…there is no longer a standard definition of family. It simply means what one wants it to mean: ‘Families today can take many forms-single parent, shared custody, adoptive, blended, foster, traditional dual parent, to name a few.’” (p. 94)  And in the downward spiral of America it will take on different degenerate meanings.

The attitude toward the sanctity of sex in marriage continues to evolve.  One student commented, “’Sex is a game and a toy, nothing more.’ As I was to find out, it is actually more than that- it is a temporary salve for the pain and loneliness resulting from abandonment.”  (p. 116)  Additionally, Clark writes, “There is a genuine belief in the midadolescent world that sex with a relative stranger can be the route to happiness and fulfillment.” (p. 127)  That is a quick way to build callousness on the soul and heart toward godly things.

The attitude toward ethics is spiraling down.  Clark notes, “…researchers found that high school students were far more carefree and casual about cheating than were high school students were far more carefree and casual about cheating than were college students…[because they] do not seem to give much energy to ethical issues that do not provide immediate self-promotion or protection.” (p. 148)  So what kinds of decisions will they make when they are confronted by real tough decisions regarding crises in their lives?  I’m not sure they’ll be thinking of others as more important than themselves.

A key take away from the book is “…the three basic issues of the adolescent journey are identity, autonomy, and belonging.”  (p. 168)  The question is who is helping reach them so they can identify with Jesus Christ, see their interdependence in the body of Christ and belonging to the family of God.   Clark does not teach the theology of helping adolescents, but he does emphasize youth need 1) refocused, nurturing organizations and programs, 2) stable and secure loving presence, and 3) to experience authentic, intimate relationships with adults. (p. 191-192).

I found the book valuable for what it observes regarding youth.  It was helpful in broad sweeps of exhortation to spend time with youth, but it doesn’t direct youth or leaders to draw upon the resources of the Lord Jesus Christ from Scripture.  It is a sociological book, not a philosophy of ministry based on Scripture.  With that understanding, a good understanding of youth can be gained and hence make a leader much more wise in relating to youth.  Who will stand in the gap and pick up the mantle to be available to them?

The Dividing Line

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A dividing line is coming.  When the Lord will draw it, I’m not sure, but it is coming.  Each year the USA has begun a slow spiral down into the morass of immorality, relativism and perversion from the founding of our country over 200 years ago.  Today, it seems like a weekly event that the administration is not just walking away from our founding principles, but leaping along into oblivion.  Soon, maybe a year, maybe five years, but soon a line will be drawn and the Lord will not just rebuke our nation, but take it to its knees.

When Newsweek touted President Obama as the “gay President,” it seemed like it was an editorial way to sell subscriptions.  But on the White House website, the President has endorsed June as the LGBT month and fully supported the LGBT agenda.  NAACP has supported the agenda also.  This may mean that the President may lose some votes for November, but this is early enough in the process that the holy standard of God will be clouded in the misty eyes of those who want the President and his agenda for four more years.  Even J.C. Penny is advertising two fathers with shared children this week for Father’s Day.

I wonder how quickly Sodom and Gomorrah became the way they were described in Scripture (Gen. 19).  I wonder how quickly the Roman Empire became ambivalent to the LGBT agenda in the 300s – 400s A.D. before the fall in 476 A.D.  Does America think she can continue in her path of perverted immorality? 

Of course those who push the agenda and those who in the next few months and years will succumb to that agenda will be given over to accept and eventually embrace that agenda.  It’s recorded in Scripture.  Paul wrote to the Romans,

…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22

Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man– and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;  29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (Rom 1:21-29)


Because America is turning her back on God, God is giving her over to her own desires.  America no longer glorifies God and is not thankful for who she is before God.  God is holy and will allow the creature to choose against God.  God gives him over to his own lusts and sin has a perverting characteristic (Eph. 4:22), which we see in the LGBT agenda.  Are these people Jesus died for?  Yes!  Can they be forgiven, transformed and renewed?  Yes.  Do I want them in my church?  Yes.  I will accept them as they are AND want them to hear the liberating truth of the gospel to learn and walk in holiness.  I will not let the agenda be a controversy in God’s church.  The dividing line of holiness has been drawn in Scripture.  A dividing line of blessing and cursing may be coming soon to America.  Are you leading others to the right side?