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Distractions

They can be good sometimes. Other times they are a hinderance. Distractions can help us manage difficult times or they can pull us away from what really matters to us. If you've been wondering what's been distracting us from recording and posting new episodes over the past month, the answer is "nothing." We have not been distracted from the podcast. The fact is that the podcast for each of us is extracurricular. We each have full-time jobs and families that take precedent over the Journeymen Podcast. For me, working at a church means that the weeks leading up to Easter require a majority of my energy. The podcast in that case would have been the distraction. I've missed talking with the guys and providing you with the awesome content you've come to expect. We're coming back this week though, and Steve is going to edit episode 28 (recorded a couple of weeks ago).

Some of the things that I do find myself distracted with often get in the way of getting things done. TV and Pittsburgh sports in particular often draw me away from the things that I need to do around the house. The internet in general makes any computer work that I need to do take much longer than it should.

What are some of the things that you find yourself being distracted by?

Some examples could be video games, the bar, the things I listed above, or the pursuit of opposite sex. You could even be distracted by your job if it is pulling focus away from your family or God. In general, none of these things are bad. That's what makes them easy distractions. There's nothing wrong with going out to go grab a drink with a couple of buddies, but there is something wrong with neglecting your wife to do so.

Do you recognize the things that are pulling you away from the more important aspects of your life?

Courage

As men, our society needs us to step up every day with great courage to fight against evil in this world and be the hands and feet of God's mission to redeem all of humanity.  According the Bible, the original man, Adam, struggled with passivity.  He chose not to live out of his strength when something evil was going down.  He was standing right there next to Eve when she chose to eat the fruit.  Just like back then, men today often become crippled by passivity.  Our society subtly tells us to take the easy path through life, and so we try.  Instead of fighting the good fight, we remain on the safety of the sidelines while we watch as evil unfolds in peoples' lives.

God requires so much more from us than passivity.  He designed us to live from our hearts, out of our strength.  We have a vital role to play in the world... in our own lives, in our friends and families' lives, and even in the lives of people we do not even know or might even be enemies with.  I am not talking about macho aggression.  I am talking about courage... the kind of courage that God gives us to live out our crucial roles in his mission to fight against evil in this world.  The opposite of courage is passivity and indifference to the struggles of others around us.  Let's live courageously.

God’s Love Through Relationships

The last couple of evenings have been great because we've shared meals with good friends.  These are the type of friends who we have shared our lives with over the past few years.  We laugh together and support one another when we're going through difficult times.  Life can be hard sometimes, so it's important to be in close relationships with friends who will support us, pray with us, laugh with us, cry with us, and dream with us... in short, to love us. Continue Reading...

Today is the Day

God is on a mission to redeem the world.  He has chosen, at this point in human history, to do that through his Church.  With that in mind, if we are followers of Christ then we cannot afford to waste this day, this week, this month, this year, or this life.  In this world, there is an enemy that wants to destroy us and keep us from living out the unique mission that God has for us during this life.  That is especially true in America, where there are many idols all around us to tempt us away from living a radical life that is sold out in order to fulfill our roles in the mission of God in this world.

Let's choose to be different this week.  Let's live our lives on fire for the God of heaven and earth.  Let's engage the world... not just the people who we are comfortable with or other Christians, but people who are far from Christ.  Life is short, and God has big plans for us.  Let's live like that this week!  Let's go into the places where we have typically been afraid.  Let's take risks for the sake of God's mission to this world.  Let's choose not to get caught up in all of the things in this world that would seek to destroy us, but instead we will wake up each day and give our lives away for the sake of Christ and for everyone who is lost.  Today is the day!