I wish I could see the world through 9 year old eyes again.  There are entirely too many days that have passed between then and now.  This certainly isn’t a nostalgic retrospective by any stretch.  I am satisfied with the journey God has led me through to this point, and I would not go back and do it again.  My 9 year old daughter and I were riding home the a few days ago and we began talking about the Christmas Story.  Like all of us, we’ve heard the Christmas story dozens if not hundreds of times over the years.  But this trip, my eyes were opened to a new wrinkle I’ve never considered.

As we weaved our way through the 2 lane highway, the discussion of the Christmas story culminated in the arrival of the Magi who came to visit the Christ child, and their departure after their visit by a different route in order to avoid King Herod.  I proceeded to explain that Herod was paranoid, jealous, and fearful to hear that a King was born… since Herod was currently the King.  She looked at me with a puzzled look.  I then explained that a King passes his throne down to his first born son… and the child born in Bethlehem wasn’t Herod’s son.  So he was nervous.  I then told her that Herod sent word that all children age 2 and under should be put to death in order to rid this threat from him.  So hearing of this, Mary and Joseph took the Christ child and fled from the land.

A long, quiet pause in the car followed.  In a soft tone she said, “Daddy, isn’t it sad that all of those babies had to die?”  I had never thought about that part of the story until that moment.  I looked at her sad, brown eyes and said, “God protects and holds the innocent children close to His heart.  They are with Him”.  She smiled and said, “yeah…but it’s still sad”.

What kind of sacrifices do we make to protect our children?  How far would we go to ensure their safety from the evil of the world?  Mary and Joseph fled with a few pennies and the clothes on their back.  Just like Mary and Joseph who fled to protect one child… God gave away His own child to protect all of us.  God, concerned for you… yes you… sent His first and only son into a world that would kill Him and reject Him.  He did it anyway, because we are valuable to Him.

There is much sadness in this world, but isn’t it a phenomenal joy that God was willing to give us such an amazing gift that cures suffering?  The joy of Christmas comes in the midst of sacrifice.  We must consider the cost of Christmas… far above the gifts, the food, and the celebrations.  We have to remember that Christmas is just the beginning of the story.

As you celebrate this year… remember the sacrifices made for you so that you may smile and have peace.

Grace and Strength,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

Casting vision, is perhaps the most grueling, taxing, heavy, and numbing process known to the human race.  The old saying tells us not to fix stuff that isn’t broken, but that isn’t accurate at all.  I for one am grateful for the brilliant person that grew tired of cutting down trees with a sharp rock.  Drinking water from the palm of my hand is great when I’m when rinsing the toothpaste out of my mouth… but daily?  I don’t think so.

I enjoy reading through the Bible and hearing God’s story and His relationship with Israel.  It seems that each time the Israelites sat back and accepted things for the way they were… they fell away from God.  It’s easy to sit and do things the way they have always been done, but isn’t that the first stage of dying?  When we become complacent and fail to continue pressing forward and casting vision, we die.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” – Proverbs 29:18

So who is looking ahead?  Who among us has decided to live in the current moment while looking ahead?  Are we searching out new ways to serve our neighbors?  Too many of us remain chained to our recliners out of fear that we may lose our comfortable place in life.

Many complain that looking ahead and getting out of the comfort zone just speeds up life and leaves us fearful of missing the small moments.  I would argue the opposite.  Life blurs past us faster and faster when we disengage from casting vision and looking ahead.  The mistake we make is thinking that “Life” is an all encompassing body of work that defines who we were after we are dead and gone.  This is a sad existence.  ”Life” is what happens with every breath we take.  ”Life” is what happens when we engage in nature around us.  ”Life” is what happens when we become a part of other people’s struggles and victories.

“Life” is where we find God, and He wants us to engage in every moment with Him so we can live it abundantly.

Each year during December, I spend time looking ahead.  Frustration usually settles in deep if I haven’t challenged my comfort zones in the past year.  I take a little time to slow down, take inventory, and identify those places in my life where I’m still chopping down trees with a sharp rock.  How about you?  Are you sitting in the recliner, waiting to die?  Or are you casting vision and looking ahead at ways you can better serve God with your time, talents, and resources?

Live life today and live it abundantly.

Grace and Strength,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

I often vision God’s power as a mighty waterfall that is surging with power and never ending supply.   How in the world is it then, that we miss that in our lives?  I think we sometimes get too full of ourselves and forget that God is… GOD.  We take our efforts into our own hands and somehow think our manufactured power is impressive.  Even in the face of a gushing waterfall, we can stand nearby and mistake the mist that glistens our face as God complete.  How do we entangle ourselves with the idea that we are powerful?  I would say that we manufacture straw men and set them up… so we can knock them down… and boast.  We can build ourselves up as “faithful people” but never really experience God’s power… just a misting.  Our prayer at Live|Bold is to that we continue to find ways to bring you to the face of the waterfall.  To show you God’s power and leave it up to you to experience Him in your own ways.  Our mission in 2010 is to look ahead and find new ways to minister to you, your friends, and your families.

As a guy, it’s hard not to tinker with things and I’ve been advised to leave the Live|Bold site alone…”that it’s fine like it is”… but that isn’t me.  I constantly looking for ways to improve this ministry and find new ways to connect to people just like you.

Live|Bold is looking forward to 2010.  Take a look at our fresh set of offerings:

1. The 122nd:  This is a weekly devotional that is distributed through email only.  Starting January 4th, subscribers will receive a short devotion taking no more than 120 seconds of your morning to get your week off and running.  We’ll leave you with a prayer focus, an act of faith, and practical application for your entire week.
   All you have to do is sign up to begin receiving… our gift to you.  And if you would like your entire church to receive this weekly email, contact us and we’ll arrange to import your email addresses into our mailing system.  Any user can unsubscribe anytime.  Or as a church, you can opt out to discontinue the emails to your congregation.
   Currently, members of St. Paul UMC are subscribed… so if you are among that membership… you’re in (if your email address on file with the church are good).
2. M3: GearBox: Live|Bold is pushing forward with an all out effort to supply resources, materials, and support for emerging or dormant men’s ministries.  The GearBox will contain start up gear for new men’s ministries, ongoing small group materials for existing men’s ministries, and new ideas to help keep the machine running.  The Live|Bold site will emerge as a tool for Men with a passion to lead ministry… to grow their own operation (so to speak).
3. Live|Bold Social: We have attempted in many ways to build an online experience that connects you to others.  For now, you can find our social engine on FaceBook and Twitter.  Search “Live Bold” on Facebook and become a fan to follow the daily posts, inspirations, and interactions with us.  You can follow us on Twitter at:  liveboldnow .
4. The GodBox: A new fiction book by Greg Arnold is a story about a man who realizes his life is slipping through his fingers and find inspiration from a most unlikely source.  The GodBox is a walk through the life of every man regardless of age or place that reveals the formula for grabbing the most out of life and living with no regrets.  Written in a parable form, you’ll find the GodBox not only a quick read, but a useful tool in managing the ups and downs of life.

There’s much more in store for 2010, and we hope that Live|Bold becomes more than a passing glance, but morphs into a tool that you can use to re-energize your faith life and give you strength to stand firm.
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ACTS 4:31

* Photo used by permission: Courtesy of Phil Douglas - http://www.pbase.com/pnd1

How do you feel about change?  Most of us view change as a great idea, but when faced with the finality of moving on to another season of life it can be annoying if not terrifying.  Presidential elections are loaded with slogans and chants about change.   Businesses that fail to change are often bankrupt and forgotten.  People that choose not to change are often unsettled, a little askew, or worse… depressed when they feel like they don’t “fit” into the new season.

The author of Ecclesiastes (found in the Old Testament) sat back after a life of accomplishment, riches, power, authority, and successful living and found that there is nothing in the world that can stop change.  He wrote about the seasons of change and wrestled with the entire point of life.  He uncovered that contentment didn’t come from the season of life, but it  comes from embracing the fundamental goal in life… to obey God and keep His commands.  Peace has nothing to do with “when you get to a point in life” rather it is strictly related to your relationship with God.  Read this very well written excerpt from “The Message” bible:

¹¹ The words of the wise prod us to live well.

They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together.
They are given by God, the one Shepherd.

^12-13 But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:
Fear God.
Do what he tells you.

¹⁴ And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.

When you ignore the reality of the season you are in and continue to chase “the way things once were”, you probably have that feeling that you just can’t find what you are looking for.  What you are searching for is peace, contentment, and stability that only comes from one place… The Creator’s outstretched arms.  It doesn’t matter how attractive things used to be… they are gone.  You cannot rely on the past to be your future.  Life continues to move beyond your grasp… the best you can do is be content where you are.  Embrace the change as it is appointed for your season of life… and just Love God deeply.  All of the other stuff is noise and empty pursuit.

In 1987, a song broke onto the scene in the midst of parachute pants, wild hair styles, neon colors, and pop music.  The band, U2, threw a song into the mix of american culture and loudly proclaimed ” I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”:

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I’m still running

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
- Bono / U2

The author of Ecclesiastes wrestled with the same notion that something exists that is bigger than our need to be comfortable.  Nothing stays the same, change is inevitable and no matter how hard you try to make things like they once were… it will never be that way again.  I say again that you probably like the idea of change, but find the process somewhat grueling , uncomfortable, and often challenging.

Being a man of God requires you to put Him first in your life.  Doing this will order and prepare you for the seasons to come.  Regardless of the curve balls, the twists, the turns… if you honor God and obey His commands, the rest will take care of itself.

Peace and Strength,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

Inside the daily grind of life, we are hearing and seeing a focus and intensity rolling across our culture where men of faith are digging their heels into the battle ground and daring evil to cross the line. In our search to find, encourage, and promote men who are doing their part to Live|Bold, we came across Ryan Reeves at Menofjesus.org .   A few weeks ago I was listening to one of my favorite online radio stations, ChristianRock.net and came across a small banner advertisement for Men of Jesus. Intrigued, because I’m a man and I am very fond of Jesus Christ, I clicked the link to see what was up… and I was encouraged.  A few emails of introduction and a conversation later, Live|Bold sat down with Ryan Reeves to find out more about his ministry.

LB: First of all Ryan, tell us about your desire to reach into men’s ministry.  What brought you to that point?

RR: I found Jesus when I was 14 years old, a freshman at Immanuel High School in Reedley, Ca. I wasn’t raised in the Church and wasn’t even supposed to go to a Christian school butGod had other plans. Soon after meeting our Lord I was blessed with several men around me who mentored me and encouraged me in my faith and life. Those men challenged me to become a leader in my school and in my Church. Through them God began to light a fire in my heart for leadership that has been burning since.

LB: And this led you down a path of ministry?  How did you come to the point of “going for it”.

RR: Fast forward several years and I was engrossed in a career in retailmanagement, I had a good job running a handful of stores in Saint Louis for a wireless company. I was sitting in a meeting in Tulsa where we were being trained on Appreciative Inquiry (a concept which teaches growth based on looking at the positives) and while I was really enjoying my job and the training; I knew that I needed to be doing something else with my life. That night I went back to my room and began to take a hard look at who I was and how I should be using my life in service to our Lord. While I was working with that company I had gained a reputation for developing the talent on my team. As I was taking stock of my life and my faith it became clear to me. I loved developing people; I was just developing the wrong ones. I needed to spend my time and energy in the same way as the men who helped me when I was
younger. I knew then I needed to invest myself in developing followers of Christ. Through that discovery; Men of Jesus was born.

LB: Tell us more about Men of Jesus (MOJ).  How do men of faith interact?

RR: Men of Jesus is a social networking site for Christian men. We provide a great place online for men to come together for fellowship, encouragement and growth. In addition to our active forums where guys discuss everything in life; we have an ongoing Bible study where we go through a chapter of scripture every day. Those are a great way for our guys to get into the Word of God. We are currently working on a sexual integrity program that we hope to re-launch before the end of November and we also hope to launch a leadership development program in 2010.

LB: As with any ministry effort, getting started is tough and keeping it going forward is even harder.  How have you responded to those challenges?

RR: As much as I hate to admit it; our biggest challenge for now is finding the finances we need to grow. Right now we are really just getting going and so we are focused on growing our community of men. We know we have to do that before we can jump into some of the other things we want to able to do. Growth takes advertising and as we all know advertising is not cheap. Until this point Men of Jesus has been funded almost solely by myself which; only gets us so far. We are currently working on a few options to generate operating revenue. I’m confident that as we grow we will find a way to make it happen. All it’s going to take is a lot of faith and a little out of the box thinking.

LB: Let’s say you get those funds, what do you want men of faith to hear from MOJ?

RR: The motto for Men of Jesus is “Followers leading our world”.  We want MOJ members to grow in their relationship with Christ. We have already seen some amazing results with men whose lives are being changed. That’s what we are really about. We need to become better followers of Christ before we will become better leaders.

LB: What kind of advice can you give to other men out here on the battle field who are trying to be Men of Jesus?

RR: There is glory in the struggle. I praise God for men who are willing to fight. The world wants you to lie down and die or give up on God. When you are willing to fight to find God you are really saying something and you are bringing Him glory. I would say to them keep fighting the good fight and don’t do it alone. Come and get some support. We’ve got willing men to fight beside you at Men Of Jesus.

LB: Amen brother!  Thank you for talking with us and sharing your vision Ryan.  Together we can make a difference in our world.  We are grateful for your willingness to Live|Bold.

RR: Thanks for helping to spread the word.

You can find more information about Men of Jesus:  menofjesus.org .  Join the site, it’s free, and begin participating in the discussion of faith, leadership, and God’s word.

The first message had many good points in that we are to shoulder with other men’s burdens, to never be alone again in order to get through life.  The ultimate desire was to encourage men to leave committed to daily acts of courage, guiding them into a new and fresh journey of faith.

The second message was that we are to learn to love and be loved. Build and value relationships.  This sounds feminine when we talk about the concepts we were taught about men.  Much was said about recognizing the “three lies of false masculinity – Athletic ability, sexual conquest and economic success” These are not the best measurements of manhood.

“Masculinity, first and foremost, ought to be defined in terms of relationships,” the speaker said. “It ought to be taught in terms of the capacity to love and to be loved. It comes down to this: What kind of father are you? What kind of husband are you? What kind of coach or teammate are you? What kind of son are you? What kind of friend are you? Success comes in terms of relationships.”

Accept responsibility, lead courageously and enact justice on behalf of others. Practice the concepts of empathy, inclusion and integrity. Learn the importance of serving others. Base your thoughts and actions on “What can I do for you?”  Develop a cause beyond yourself. Try to leave the world a better place because you were here.

I think, as I look at these two concepts I need to adapt both ideas into my thought process, because Jesus was that kind of man.  A man that formed relationships with both brother and outcast, taught his followers to be committed, displayed courage and enacted justice on behalf of others.

If I am to live the life and “walk the walk” that Jesus ask me to do then I need to incorporate the ideas from both avenues of thought.

I have talked many times about the men that I form a bond with.  They shoulder my burdens with me, they pray for me each day, as I do them.  Their desire for me is to be the best version of myself each day as I walk through my life.  They also hold me accountable to a much greater degree than the world would hold me.  With them I can tell my secrets, let my wall down and I don’t feel like I am being judged. I have formed a relationship with other men that share the same hope and promises as I do.

I need to use the bible as my guide each day and pray that the Holy Spirit will enter my life and motivate me to do the will of God.  Will you join with other men and form a relationship? Doing so will strengthen your daily walk and help you Live|BOLD in your faith.

-Steve Rusk

We glance through the Bible and see a very clear picture of the entire story of Christ… surrounded by persecution and death.  Even if you read the story of Christ once per year, you know how it ends.  But there are a few pieces that you should really get to know.

“What you do to the least of these, you also do to me.”
“Do no hinder the children, let them come to me.”
“If you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven.”
- Jesus Christ

Every day you encounter men, women, and children who are hungry, hopeless, thirsty, cold, lonely, and isolated from society.  Do you see them?  Do you know them?  Have you attended to them?

Walking through life concerned only with what you can get, who you can control, and how to accomplish the “American Dream” is empty and useless.  The point of living each day isn’t the accumulation of status, wealth, comfort, and contentment.  The point is to reach out and serve God  by serving others.

Ignoring the cry of the needy, the hunger of the lost, and tears of the desperate children in your world… is the same as driving a nail into the hands of Christ.

The religious rulers during the days of Christ were threatened by Christ, not by physical intimidation, but  rather from the loss of comfort.   They knew what was right and wrong according to God’s law.  But they had bended and molded God’s word to fit into their lifestyle so they could live easier, and more comfortable.  Rather than spending more heartfelt time serving others… they became consumed with serving only themselves.  Sound familiar?

Christ challenged them to get back to God… and the rulers killed Christ so they wouldn’t have to deal with the effort and the challenge.

So I ask you again.  How will you persecute Christ today?  How will you ignore His ways?  Will you spend your day pursuing your own comfort?  Will you degrade and tear down the self-esteem of your friends, family, or people that are different from you?  Will you withhold love in order to love yourself more?

The walk of faith isn’t an easy road.  It requires a sacrifice on a daily basis.  The question we all must answer every day is whether we will die to our flesh so that someone else may live? Or will we let someone else die so we don’t have to be bothered with it?

Live Bold today.  Help the hungry, do something to encourage someone. Show God’s right now by living a life that reflects Christ… not by persecuting Him.

Peace,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

How’s your prayer life these days? I don’t know about you, but for me it often seems my prayer life can be compared to seasons. There are times of plenty and sometimes stretches of drought. It’s a bit like being a writer; sometimes the words flow freely and other times it’s something of a struggle. I hope I’m not alone in this.

I feel like Paul at times. Not Paul, the passionate evangelist, on fire for Jesus. But, rather, the Paul who says even when he knows what he shouldn’t be doing, that’s exactly what he ends up doing.

I was fortunate to have a strong spiritual upbringing, rooted in prayer. The Catholics are not short on prayer. But the prayers I learned as a young Catholic were more a part of the ritual of religion. Don’t get me wrong, they were and still are wonderful prayers. I’m talking about The Lord’s Prayer,  The Hail Mary and the Apostles Creed. Those were among the “big three” in growing up Catholic.

Like any familiar prayer, there’s the danger of it becoming simply words that one recites. There’s a risk of heartfelt prayer turning into something you do by rote. But I realized at an early age that the sincerity of my prayers and prayer life rested (and still rests) solely with me. God is God and God is faithfully listening. It’s me that forgets or stumbles or recites something my head may understand, but my heart’s not into.

I’d like to think that God understands my seasons of drought. In fact, I’d say that He’s lovingly pushing me toward a deeper relationship with Him. I know that God desires that I grow as a Christian, not remain stagnant.

As a youngster, the habit of prayer included primarily mealtime prayers and bedtime prayers It was a wonderful foundation for learning the importance of prayer in ones life. Nowadays, I find myself more often with brief snipets of prayers. I’ll thank God for a special sunset or lift a prayer for someone in need who comes to mind.

I thank God that He listens to the prayers of His children and knows what’s best for them. In or out of season.

- Steve Fandel

I find myself most unnerved by the fast paced change of technology. Cars equipped with GPS devices, phones that do everything my computer can, and TV’s that broadcast high definition and beyond. Call me old fashioned (or just plain old) but I’m not a big fan of advancing technology. Sure, I can see how technological advances have made life easier. But there are downsides as well.

It seems that we have become a more disposable society. We don’t keep our devices very long; have to upgrade to the newer, faster, larger network, more pixeled, 3G networked, new fangled tech toys. There are fewer people learning to play guitar, but plenty of young people mastering “Guitar Hero”.

Back in the day, you’d have the TV repair guy come to the house when the picture went bad. These days, you simply toss the old set to the curb and head to Wally World or Best Buy for a replacement. Sure, the Internet is great and Google is invaluable for my day to day research and fact finding as a television reporter. But I’m about to lose my head over the mere chore of remembering, recalling or even writing down computer passwords and such.

Let’s see, I have a password to log on to the main computer system at work, another password to access our web network. I have a separate password to do things like fill out time sheets and leave request forms and still another to access our human resources stuff. And that’s just at work. I’ve got a password for my photography web site, Facebook of course, a photography competition site that I belong to, my 401K stuff and another financial related site. As if the computer stuff wasn’t enough, I’ve got to remember my long distance code at work and my ATM numbers to do a little banking.

Change is scary. But there is some comfort in the big picture. And it has to do with God.

Now, I don’t know what God thinks about all this fast paced, high tech change. And I pray there are no passwords or numeric codes in heaven. But this much I do know about the Almighty:  He is constant; perhaps the only constant in our ever changing world.

I the Lord, do not change.
Malachi 3:6

As my late friend, the Rev. Bruce Dodge, was fond of saying:  I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Amen, Brother Bruce. Amen.

-Steve Fandel

You cannot spend your life taking for yourself and expect to understand what it means to be a Christian.  The entire foundation of Jesus’ message is to focus on others and give to others out of your abundance.  He further explained to His disciples that the central ingredient to following Him is that giving, helping, and sharing with others is the only pathway to abundant life.  The model of Christ is repeated from the beginning of creation through the history of nature, and in the sacrifice of His only son for you.  God created and gave it away.  Nature follows suit… but only man rebels and hoards.

So how is it that we’ve modeled our faith on “taking”?  How can we fit our lust for gain into the picture that God created for us?  Christian people, you know better.

Christ spent His entire ministry encouraging, commanding, and demanding that anyone who engages in a relationship with Him has hope, joy, contentment, and peace… in abundance and it comes from giving.  How can you claim to have faith in God and live like there is no hope?  I think I know… you take and you don’t give.

Any single Christian man who spends a lifetime collecting, hoarding, taking, and grabbing… lives a daily life of paranoia to some degree.  The worry that someone will take something from your stockpile compels you to take more.  The fear of losing something is perhaps the biggest weapon that evil uses to isolate us from God’s command and there is rarely a pathway out of the isolation that hoarding brings to your door.  There are countless numbers who enter into the last days of life and suddenly realize that all of those years spent collecting junk… brought nothing to extend life or happiness.  It’s quite sad.

Don’t misunderstand and feel that you should take on a life of poverty… quite the opposite.  Know that out of giving, blessings come from God.  The smell test on those gifts from God is this: If God is glorified through your gain and He get’s the credit – it’s legitimate.  If you are glorified through your gain, and you get all the credit – it’s just another worldly gain.  Any pastor, church, or religion that tries to convince you that if you live like a good little boy… you’ll get a new car is in contradiction of Christ’s message.  Good grief.  Put it to the smell test.

You have to Give2Live.  It’s God’s design.

Take your opportunities this week to stop hoarding.  Give of yourself, your time, your talents, your resources.  It’s not always about serving just your family either.  It’s taking care of business at home and taking care of people in your community.  The love of Christ cannot be contained… it must be shared.

Peace,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31