Chapter 16: Revisit Chapters 1-15 Part 2 Chapters 9-15 2022
When I remember the stupid things I’ve done in my life, it refreshes my memory and I realize how many times God saved me from my bad choices, brings to mind all my sins for repentance, prayers of gratitude and supplication for the love He must have for me in saving me from the insane, thoughtless, sinful situations I put myself into. I thought I was lucky — and I was, but luck runs out — mine did, fortunately, Jesus never runs out, on me or you. With these reminders in each chapter I still make plenty of mistakes, without the chapters, remembering my testimony, the scriptures that cause understanding of God, where will I be? For those of you who have no time for assignments, consider your position of authority — what would you give today, if you knew you would lose all of it tomorrow? Chapter 16, part 2: Chapters 9-15, 2022. Take notes, take notice, take yourself seriously — in Him, with Him, for Him.
CHAPTER 9: THE MYTH OF STEWARDSHIP
I think I’m doing well, a good steward — and I’m not. I’ve lost clarity in my life, my walk. It might take a serious shake up to remind me of my direction. Stay clear in your mind my friends, the life and cause of Jesus re-identified in study everyday. Who can look at the book a couple times a week, or monthly and get anything usable? Unless I check myself with scripture and in fellowship everyday, I will be wrong about this or that and that will yield nothing good. Let God be honest with you. Do the hard work, it’s a much more honorable path, for all He’s done for you. Engage the Lord in deep thoughts of redemption, forgiveness, Wisdom in the Holy Spirit. Myth of Stewardship? Definition: Myth: a false belief. Pray first and listen to the Lord in His Holy Word.
2 Corinthians 2:11 New International Version
(NIV)11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
CHAPTER 10: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BREACH OF FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND A MISTAKE
Breach of Fiduciary Duty is deliberate disobedience. A mistake is an error you might be able to fix, something you didn’t know. Breach of Fiduciary Duty can cost everything, absolutely everything. A mistake could be very expensive as well, but not intentional. Big difference. Especially when you are in a position of authority. Best to learn the information, be ready and ask the Lord for strength against temptation and stupid. To show you mistakes before you make them. Knowledge before the mistake, direction and discernment. Fix your mistakes as quickly as possible. Ask God to interrupt when your mind is planning a breach of fiduciary duty, beg Him to help. Before it’s too late. Common sense is not so common and stupid is really, really expensive.
Proverbs 1:5-7
New International Version
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.[a]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[b] despise wisdom and instruction.
CHAPTER 11: THE OVERUSE OF SCRIPTURE
Simply put. The incorrect use of scripture. There is no overuse of scripture if used correctly. Is it that simple? Yes, it is that simple, however the misuse of scripture was a consideration of the title of chapter 11, however, I thought perhaps that was an incorrect assessment bordering on judgement, “overuse” covered a multitude of improper failures that cause the hopeless to remain hopeless. I say it again, if we misuse scripture or incorrectly quote scripture the lost could remain lost. The problem: incorrect use, improper understanding, manipulative misuse, misunderstanding of the actual text — all extremely problematic — know your text, know your bible, understand and gain knowledge through correct teaching.
James 1:26
New International Version
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Chapter 12: The Triangle, the Sliding Scale
The five sides of the triangle. Legendary isn’t it? I’ve tried over the years to hail this chapter as the best tool in the tool box. Misunderstood, some might say, others might say, just set off to the side for a later investigation, but for those who get it and use it, understand the clarity found in the sliding scale, the gladiator methods of the triangle for those triathletes of life who unlock themselves in chapter 12 — there is a boldness discovered from deep within a persons basic force of life. Long story short, a guide to measuring what you can do for God and what He does for you. Three sides: Mind, Body, Spirit…, yours to do for God. Tending to those things He has given you. Cultivating one’s mind, cultivating health and strength, doing the things that God has given you to inspire you to live and take in the very breath of life itself. The fourth and fifth sides? “God.” Knowledge and Wisdom. His will, perspective, God’s own sight in your eyes, each step, guiding, pushing, straining as if your mind would burst with any more of it.., God, God, truth, light, love — all that matters in the fourth and fifth side of this ‘triangle’ we speak. You can’t do that without Him. Chapter 12 is about balance, the sliding scale, a measurement one can look upon and gauge correctness, incorrectness, selfish, lies, and the greatest of all, a gauge that can measure the “warning” that stands before us all — as we have been given authority in our lives and best we use it for all that is good.
Luke 12:47-49
New King James Version
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
CHAPTER 13: THE DAY HE OPENED MY EYES
My testimony. He touched my eyes, and there before me was so much more in every day as much I could stand it — more and more. On a day when my journey begins to a place my Lord had prepared for me, a place where my spirit could find rest and assurance and understanding. A comprehension that all I had done, all of it, sins, strife, challenges, failures, completions, successes, hope and hopeless, love and broken heart, all of it, transgressions, mistakes, all of it, absolutely all of it — He would now use as a tool for His glory and my redemption — and most importantly that this thing I now could see, not all could see — and fear came upon me, for now I knew the difference — I was lost and now I was found, blind but now I see — many of those around me — did not see —
Matthew 13:14-17
New King James Version
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
My friends, use this call and the voice of reason, the voice of God.. to continue to find your way — He speaks to you specifically in the Word. Dare not listen anymore to the voice of Treason — that voice — it his not Him — and that voice desires your catastrophic failure.
CHAPTER 14: WHERE DOES JUDGMENT BEGIN
Judgement is for God, period. It is talked about in scripture many times, one that I recall is the White Throne Judgement, the end of time — Christ is the judge and what happens there is the end of all evil, there is nothing there for us and best we stay away from all that brings such an end. For me and you there is however responsibility and in responsibility there is ASSESSMENT. If I find myself in judgement of anything, it is at the end of assessment. Judgement begins when assessment ends. My job is to assess not judge. Judgement is without love without solution, assessment is with love and solution. We are a company owners. Assessment is the job everyday for the purpose of good and what is right for the work God has given. Your own judgement is irrelevant and disobedient to the cause of solutions. Cultivate relationships, unless they are inappropriate or incorrect. Good people are hard to find, lazy people are hard to avoid. You’re in charge. My job, assessment .., otherwise I cross over into judgement and that is reserved for the Divine, definitely above my pay scale.
Romans 14:13
New International Version
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
CHAPTER 15: DOING BETTER THAN YOUR BEST
I can’t do better than my best. I can do my best, that’s all. If I want to do better than my best, I need God. There is nothing I can do to negotiate a better deal in life with my brain alone. I can create a whole lot of problems, challenges and chaos. And not to mention, a whole lot of work for myself, that may or may not be productive, for sure anything good will not last as long as one would hope for — in God, things have quite a bit more longevity. Navigate towards the Lord, every day, every minute, through your sins, challenges, failures, pride, short comings and successes.
John 14:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
12 “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me[f] anything in My name, I will do it.[g]
Train hard, work hard — keep to the list He tells you is important, not the one you are deflecting too, the next shiny object on the table. Stay the course, keep to the assignment, the mission if you will. Keep yourself in order, stay strong, be an example for our children, and those around you. When you fall, get up and push on. Be with Him, good days, bad days, days you fall, days you prevail, days you breath. Give Him thanks and achieve in His Holy Name, consistent and committed in all matters of Christ.
Be an overachiever, do better than your best in His grace. Chapter 16 – Revisit chapters 1-15, and use the little gems you find throughout the each one. I am a broken man, held together by Jesus, the cracks are still visible, tied together in His Holy grace and mercy alone. Read my notes and use them to find your way to the Master’s classroom and the only text book that matters — the Bible.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
