His CD Continuum is incredible.  It was the first John Mayer CD I downloaded.  It begins with a great song,  Waiting on the World to Change.  I love the tune.

The other day I was driving and heard the song – once more -  and it hit me, how many of us are waiting for our world to change?  How many of us guys are sitting back and waiting for others to change our world?  Believe me, they will.  They will change our world and it may not be to our liking.  More than that it may not be to God’s liking.

It was then I was reminded of a verse I came across in Kenny Luck’s book,  Risk: Are You Willing to Trust God with Everything? In Matthew 11:12 Jesus reminds you and me, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.“  These men aren’t waiting for someone else to change their world.  They’re taking action.  They’re getting up off their duffs and picking up a weapon and advancing God’s Kingdom.  These are men who are making a difference where they live, work, and play.  These are men who are being proactive.  They’re not lying  around the house or the church complaining about how the world’s changing and they just don’t like it. NO!  They are doing something about it.  They may not change the entire world, but  they are changing THEIR world.

What about you?  Are you waiting for your world to change?  Are you complaining about the morality on TV, movies, in songs, on the internet? Are you sitting back and watching the divorce rate among Christians meet and exceed the divorce rate among non-believers?  Are you resting on your laurels while people go hungry and naked in the streets?  See, if you aren’t changing the world someone else is.  And their changes will influence you one way or another.  I’m bothered by the fact that many guys just sit and complain and do nothing to change their world – even the ones who proclaim Jesus as Lord. . .as King.  I’m not asking you to change the entire world, just yours.  Just where you work, live, and play.  The rest will take care of itself.

Come one guys lets change our world – schools, athletic teams, PTAs, neighborhoods, families, communities, friends, workplaces, even churches.  Lets join together to fight for God’s Kingdom and lets be proactive in changing our world for the Kingdom of God!  What are you waiting for?  Orders?  Try Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Enough for you?  It is for me.  So lets get our butts out of those pews – OK, technically, some of you have chairs, you get the point -  and lets hit the streets, the living rooms, the conference rooms, the ball fields, wherever, and advance the Kingdom of God! Let’s stop waiting for someone to change our world and lets  change it together!

Your Comrade in Arms,

Mike

In the presence of leaders – Sadducees,  Pharisees, and Roman leadership – Paul continued to fight.  He fought for his rights as a Roman citizen and staunchly stood his ground when it came to defending the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It did not matter the outcome, before blue collar and white collar he was going to advance the Kingdom of God.

What about us, guys?  Do we stand for our rights as husbands, fathers, better yet,  men?  I’m not advocating that a National Organization for Men be created to protect our rights.  I’m simply asking if you’re willing to stand up and be the man God designed you to be.  Paul did.  He was a leader, courageous, a risk taker, a man of integrity and character.  He was humble, yet confident of his identity in Christ.  I could go on, but I think you get the picture.  I want to challenge you to begin the process of becoming the man God designed you to be.  Begin by earnestly praying and asking God to reveal to you a – one – characteristic that you need to change and work on.  Once you’ve identified what it is, then write down some steps that you can implement into your life that will help you change that characteristic.  Search through the Bible for men who are like the man God wants you to be.  Look at their lives as examples.  What was different about them?  Did they have to change?  What was it about them that changed?  How did they change?  Learn from  their lives.

Now. . .are you ready to be a modern day warrior?  Willing to fight for the Kingdom of God?  Want to see God’s Kingdom advanced?  Want to see neighborhoods, cities, workplaces, even churches changed?  Easy to say yes.  Harder to live that yes.  I know.  I’ve had to change some things about myself.   Ask God to grant you the courage to become the warrior. . .the fighter. . .he so desires you to become.  Then. . .well. . .just start standing up for Christ; even if no one else will.  If you don’t then that means no one is.  He stood up for you.  Will you stand up for Him?

Fight for the heart of your King!!

Mike