NOW! Rise.

When I was a young boy, there was a salvage store that I used to frequent in my hometown that sold all types of used and unclaimed merchandise.  There was one particular Saturday when I was browsing through the mountains of “junk” that I came across a row of about 20 typewrtiers – keep in mind that this is well before the PC came along.  On each of the typewriters someone had typed the phrase:  “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country”.  Every single machine had this single sentence typed on a white piece of paper.

In my naive, young mind, I was thinking that perhaps someone was quoting a famous author or even perhaps attempting to build some sort of uprising of patriotic support… right there in the salvage store in Scottsboro.  Was I witnessing an organized effort?  Could this have been a rebellion brewing in North Alabama?

This experience has stuck in my mind for years.  I found out later that the phrase, “now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country” was actually a typing exercise for typing students and job applicants.  It was used to evaluate accuracy and speed.  But stretch your mind with me for a minute.  Who thought up that phrase?  What was the general feeling of our country during those times?  And how much re-enforcement would be present if every typing student or job applicant typed that phrase over and over and over to test their skill set?  Would it not lodge into your mind… that NOW is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country?  Certainly those were different times.  At recall the pride and values present in our country when things such as that phrase were a part of daily life.

So I ask… what are we using to re-enforce our collective mentality these days?  What are we typing into our PC’s on a regular basis?  News about finances, fornication, idolatry, lying, cheating, stealing, adultery, profanity, pornography, and unlimited amounts of other distracting ideals that do not reflect our resolve.  That is what we are told by media and some church leaders.  But I beg to differ.  I think we’re better than that.  I know you are better than that.

You have a heart for God.  You have been culled out of that pack and are standing taller than you used to.  The spirit of Christ is working in you to be greater than those things.  Each day you are filling your mind with Godly things that is causing your heart to beat more and more like His every day.  You aren’t what the media says you are.  You aren’t losing your faith, you are fighting for what is right… but we just need to get unified.

Thousands of polls, people, and research projects are telling us that men of faith are fading into obscurity.  They are all wrong.  You are here, you are fighting, and you are not alone.

We are standing on the edge of waking up the sleeping giant.  I am jittery with anticipation that the men of our culture will actually stiffen their spine, point a finger, and command the evil of each day to back down.  I am watching a vast number of men like yourself leave the church because you are frustrated.  I am watching other men like you put your time into the pew to leave unfulfilled.  I am listening to the scant few men who are clawing at the walls of the church institution and demanding that we wake up and get into the fight.

As far as I can see, there are men just like yourself who are striving to be righteous, to join the cause, to stand up and fight the good fight.  Church leaders need to wake up and see what we see… that there are men in the fight… they just had to go join another army… because the call for us has not been made in our own backyard.

I do not want to wake up and find that I did not put my toe over the line.  I dare not face God Almighty and claim to be a warrior with a nice shiny shield, undamaged sword, and armor that never saw battle.  Just like you, I want to walk into the presence of my Lord with blood on my sword, dings in my shield, bandages on my wounds, and a sweat soaked helmet.

How do I do that?  How do I walk into that fight?  Where do I find the challenge?  It’s everywhere.  It’s at home, it’s at work, and it’s in the church house.  You, my friend, are poised to be a warrior.  We set our jaw and prepare for the punch… and stand ready to strike back.

Read God’s word and stay focused on how you can be the change agent.  Find ways where you can stand up to the face of evil in your children’s lives, in your community, and among your family.  Be the mentor or role model of what righteous living looks like.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country!  What an inspiring inscription and how true it rings right now.

May God wake up your warrior soul and may you not shrink to evil, but face it head on with the strength of God’s army at your side.  May we each understand that it is NOW! that we come to the aid of our brothers and that:

NOW! is the time for all righteous men to come to the aid of their community!

Peace,
Greg
ACTS 4:31

About

Welcome, and thanks for dragging yourself over to Live|Bold! My name is Greg Arnold and I am pumped to see you here. This interactive online community is here to point every man toward the cross. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for ages, or you are just stumbling into this strange new world of faith, we have something of value to offer you. This online e-zine is a cross between a blog, a social network, a resource center, and a pulpit. My hope is to inspire you to live your faith on the outside and be a real man for God. We need you in the fight.