"Operating forces should be organized for warfighting and then adapted for peacetime rather than vice versa."
Assume war in your planning and preparation and adapt to peace. Too many Christians assume peace and then are forced to adapt to war.
Jeremiah 6:14
They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.
Blind to the reality of battle or offended by the prospect of having to fight, many Christians paint over mold and call the problem solved. They don't want to think about dirty things like sweat and blood and tears and fear. Those would require real faith. But the fetid fumes of warfare like smelling salts threaten to wake them up, so they cry, "Peace" in the streets in order to diffuse the nervous energy of impending doom.
Ezekiel 13:10
They have led my people astray by saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and since when a flimsy wall is being built, they plaster it with whitewash.
You cannot whitewash a collapsing wall. It doesn't need a better PR department, it needs the violence of demolition and the diligence of construction: dust and mortar and sweat and brick and work.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
day no. 15,003: trailblazers have more scars, but better stories
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life."
If you are the first to hack your way through an untamed landscape, you are bound to receive your fair share of set backs, thorn pricks, thistle burns and blisters. But the stories you receive are worth it. The peculiar joy of blazing trails belongs to those willing to endure difficulties in order to allow others to pass in their footsteps more easily.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
day no. 15,002: let's start keeping score again
I think it's time we return to keeping score.
The self-esteem era ushered in along with it an endless supply of participation awards. Everyone began getting ribbons merely for entering the competition because winning isn't everything. And while it is true that winning isn't everything, it most certainly isn't nothing. In fact, in a competition, it is necessary.
The reason we celebrate Lightning McQueen choosing to lose in order to assist The King across the finish line is because he had to lose in order to do it. But if we remove losing as an option, we remove the ability to put anything above competition. Sure, we run the risk that some will take winning to an extreme and do whatever it takes to get the only blue ribbon available, but when we remove the one blue ribbon and replace it with one million purple ones, we run the risk that everyone will stop running altogether.
When we remove the competitive element of an event, the gesture becomes meaningless. It doesn't mean anything to give up winning if everyone gets a trophy in the end. It doesn't mean anything to try or to not try, to lose or to win.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
When the outcome of the race doesn't determine anything, people won't run to the finish line. Can you imagine the absurdity of Paul attempting to inspire people to run the race of faith as hard as possible in a participation award culture?
Do you not know that in a race all runners receive a prize, even if no one runs? So run... or don't. Either way, we're all going to a better place in the end.
That's lame.
Let's start keeping score again. It's good for morale. It encourages people to try. It may mean losing when you wanted to win. It may mean forfeiting the win in order to love your opponent. It may mean that some lie, cheat and steal in order to try to get the one golden trophy. But in the end, God is keeping score and the meek shall inherit the trophies that were stolen from them.
The self-esteem era ushered in along with it an endless supply of participation awards. Everyone began getting ribbons merely for entering the competition because winning isn't everything. And while it is true that winning isn't everything, it most certainly isn't nothing. In fact, in a competition, it is necessary.
The reason we celebrate Lightning McQueen choosing to lose in order to assist The King across the finish line is because he had to lose in order to do it. But if we remove losing as an option, we remove the ability to put anything above competition. Sure, we run the risk that some will take winning to an extreme and do whatever it takes to get the only blue ribbon available, but when we remove the one blue ribbon and replace it with one million purple ones, we run the risk that everyone will stop running altogether.
When we remove the competitive element of an event, the gesture becomes meaningless. It doesn't mean anything to give up winning if everyone gets a trophy in the end. It doesn't mean anything to try or to not try, to lose or to win.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
When the outcome of the race doesn't determine anything, people won't run to the finish line. Can you imagine the absurdity of Paul attempting to inspire people to run the race of faith as hard as possible in a participation award culture?
Do you not know that in a race all runners receive a prize, even if no one runs? So run... or don't. Either way, we're all going to a better place in the end.
That's lame.
Let's start keeping score again. It's good for morale. It encourages people to try. It may mean losing when you wanted to win. It may mean forfeiting the win in order to love your opponent. It may mean that some lie, cheat and steal in order to try to get the one golden trophy. But in the end, God is keeping score and the meek shall inherit the trophies that were stolen from them.
Monday, November 18, 2019
day no. 15,001: better anybody than nobody
"I know myself to be an unworthy monitor, but a monitor you must have; and it is better for us to hear of our sin and duty from anybody than from nobody." -- Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor
We do not need our shepherds to have degrees in flock management or herd psychology. If the person is beneath you, but their observation sees into you, the reaction cannot be based on their qualification, but on your disqualifying sin. If we are sinning, we need to know about it and it is better to hear about it from someone than no one, from anybody than nobody. We should be so lucky as to have so many interested in our purity.
It's better to be lit up today by someone you think is beneath you than someday by Someone who's definitely above you
We do not need our shepherds to have degrees in flock management or herd psychology. If the person is beneath you, but their observation sees into you, the reaction cannot be based on their qualification, but on your disqualifying sin. If we are sinning, we need to know about it and it is better to hear about it from someone than no one, from anybody than nobody. We should be so lucky as to have so many interested in our purity.
It's better to be lit up today by someone you think is beneath you than someday by Someone who's definitely above you
Sunday, November 17, 2019
day no. 15,000: fifteen thousand
Fifteen thousand days ago I was born in Orange City, IA to Teunis and Jacqueline Van Voorst on the 24th day of October in the year of our Lord, 1978.
Psalm 90:10-14
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Fifteen thousand times the sun has risen and set on my breath. Each one a reminder of life and death and renewal. The liturgy of the earth's rotation speaks of light piercing the darkness and the world plunging itself back into darkened chaos. Teach me to number by days and to be instructed by the script each one conveys: there is life and there is death and there full expectation of renewal in the One who commands the sun to march across the sky and earth to spin on its axis.
Psalm 90:10-14
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Fifteen thousand times the sun has risen and set on my breath. Each one a reminder of life and death and renewal. The liturgy of the earth's rotation speaks of light piercing the darkness and the world plunging itself back into darkened chaos. Teach me to number by days and to be instructed by the script each one conveys: there is life and there is death and there full expectation of renewal in the One who commands the sun to march across the sky and earth to spin on its axis.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
day no. 14,999: keep alert. suit up. bulk up. stand.
"During times of peace, the most important task of any military is to prepare for war. Through its preparedness, a military provides deterrence against potential aggressors. As the nation’s expeditionary force-in-readiness, the Marine Corps must maintain itself for immediate employment in “any clime and place” and in any type of conflict. All peacetime activities should focus on achieving combat readiness. This implies a high level of training, flexibility in organization and equipment, professional leadership, and a cohesive doctrine."
The time to manufacture bullets is not when you are being shot at.
"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war." -- Sun Tzu
Those who devote themselves to being in fighting trim will have to fight less and when they do, their fights will be shorter and more favorably decided.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
The time for putting on the armor is today. Not waiting for the darts to fire. The time to stand is now. Not tottering around until determination and stability are required.
The deeply rooted tree endures the storm by going deep when skies are blue.
Keep alert.
Suit up.
Bulk up.
Stand.
The time to manufacture bullets is not when you are being shot at.
"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war." -- Sun Tzu
Those who devote themselves to being in fighting trim will have to fight less and when they do, their fights will be shorter and more favorably decided.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
The time for putting on the armor is today. Not waiting for the darts to fire. The time to stand is now. Not tottering around until determination and stability are required.
The deeply rooted tree endures the storm by going deep when skies are blue.
Keep alert.
Suit up.
Bulk up.
Stand.
Friday, November 15, 2019
day no. 14,998: our character employs our will to accomplish what we want
"Our truest character employs our fiercest will in order to accomplish what we ultimately want most. "“The essential thing is action. Action has three stages: the decision born of thought, the order or preparation for execution,and the execution itself. All three stages are governed by the will. The will is rooted in character, and for the man of action character is of more critical importance than intellect. Intellect without will is worthless, will without intellect is dangerous.” —Hans von Seeckt
Who you are determines what you do. If you don't know who you are, you don't know what you're doing. When a person says that they want to do something, that isn't entirely true unless they make every effort to do it. There are things we wish we wanted to do. But for the most part, we do what we want to do. We give weight to whatever factors ultimately matter most to us and act in accordance.
Our character employs our will to accomplish what we want.
Our truest character employs
our fiercest will to accomplish
our deepest desires
In other words, we do everything we can to do what we want to do more than anything.
Who you are is more important that what you know. A man who knows the right thing to do, but lacks the will to do it is worthless. The man who does whatever he wants without thinking about it is dangerous.
The man of action must be a good man looking to achieve good ends by good means.
Isaiah 32:8
He who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.
Our truest character employs our fiercest will in order to accomplish what we ultimately want most.
Who you are determines what you do. If you don't know who you are, you don't know what you're doing. When a person says that they want to do something, that isn't entirely true unless they make every effort to do it. There are things we wish we wanted to do. But for the most part, we do what we want to do. We give weight to whatever factors ultimately matter most to us and act in accordance.
Our character employs our will to accomplish what we want.
Our truest character employs
our fiercest will to accomplish
our deepest desires
In other words, we do everything we can to do what we want to do more than anything.
Who you are is more important that what you know. A man who knows the right thing to do, but lacks the will to do it is worthless. The man who does whatever he wants without thinking about it is dangerous.
The man of action must be a good man looking to achieve good ends by good means.
Isaiah 32:8
He who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.
Our truest character employs our fiercest will in order to accomplish what we ultimately want most.
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