Category Archives: Christian Life

Christian Life isn’t all the time “happy-face” and positive. Yes, there are times of joy. Yet, intense life lessons rarely make me smile or laugh when I’m going through them. Endurance, patience, stamina, fortitude, tolerance, persistence, serenity, determination, courage and grit during these periods are God’s opening to make mere words a reality. Here we’ll be honest about the practice of our Christian faith.

How to Apply Aggressive Self-Defense

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How do you feel about getting beat senseless or bullied and made to do something you don’t want to do?

It’s a ridiculous question right?

OK, so how do you keep this unpleasant, demeaning stuff from happening? Do you, learn some Ninja-Turtle defensive and offensive moves to guard against disaster?

Yes.

ninja turtle

I’m going to show you three aggressive moves. Because avoiding or preventing beat-downs is a highly self-preservation priority.

But also understand that every attack is a potential chance to learn and practice the art of effective counter-punching.

Of course, sidestepping an assault is a better movement. Then too, experiencing no conflicts is the best situation. But this is probably an unrealistic expectation given the world we are alive in.

Humanly speaking, I used to believe I could fight my way through anything. At that time it was me against the world. In my dreams I could take on all comers like Captain America … and win!

What were my attributes? Superior intelligence? A Hulk-like physique? Humor? Super friends?

No, I only pretended to have those qualities. Truthfully, I had no practice or skill with any of them. This reality led me to the realization that I’m no super-hero.

Honestly, all by myself, I’m incompetent.

So, what are the three aggressive moves for self-defense?

Here are the three aggressive self-defense techniques that will result in guarding (protecting) you from becoming a victim of any opponent or any threat.

  1. Yield to the Holy Spirit
  2. Focus on Jesus
  3. Resist Evil.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit is recognizing that you are inadequate alone. You need help. The Holy Spirit makes you adequate, but not independent.

Focusing on Jesus demands that you see things with the 20/20 eyesight of Jesus. What good is Jesus if you won’t learn to use what he has made available to you?

Resisting Evil means that every time temptation comes you have an opportunity to watch God work in your circumstance. The result is personal prosperity.

Whether it’s physical, psychological, or spiritual, when you learn and practice these three aggressive self-defense techniques you will prevent humiliating beat-downs.

These three techniques are lethal and should be employed with the full knowledge and understanding that they are extremely effective and harmful to your enemy.

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Bonus Song:

TobyMac Lose My Soul

Bonus Devotions:

What Good is Church? How to Miss the Benefits and Perks

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Usually Ernie, Ivy, and I have been taking turns carpool driving to work in downtown Tucson but this week Ernie and I are riding the bus to and from work because Ivy is on a one week vacation.

It’s a cool but not uncomfortable February morning as we’re sitting at the bus stop on Ina and Oracle Road waiting for the downtown bus to show up. No one else is waiting except us.

I’m checking email and reading headlines on my iPhone. That’s when Ernie said, “I been thinking about church.”

Sort of disinterested I say, “Hmm, you have huh … what have you been thinking about church?”

Ernie launched into what he’d been thinking. “Well, I’m trying to figure out: what good is church?”

“Hmm,” I said. “And what have you figured out so far?” I looked at Ernie.

Ernie looked serious. “Well, from what I’ve read, fewer people seem interested in attending church. Why is that I wonder? I guess it could be because they don’t want to face any discomfort.”

Discomfort. I thought, Yes the church can cause discomfort. I said, “You know I read somewhere that church appeals to only four out of ten people in the USA. Why do you imagine that is?”

“I’m not sure,” Ernie said. “I suppose a number of them do not view church as all that important. And maybe they’re too busy with other stuff because they suppose other stuff is more important.”

“Or,” I surmised, “they’re just plain lazy.”

“ … Certainly that may be a point. But, I’m trying to figure out what I might be missing by not going to church?”

“Well, for me when I attend church, I hear some pretty interesting sermons.”

Ernie frowned and said, “Wonderful … So is that what church is, hearing pretty interesting sermons or, should it be more that that?”

A bit confused I asked, “Such as what?”

Ernie said, “Well off the top of my head I’ve thought of two things I miss by not attending church. First is the benefit of social interaction and second is the benefit of using and developing my talents and abilities.”

“That’s sounds like three things.” I corrected Ernie’s math.

“Actually there are more than two or three things that I miss by not going to church.”

“You’ve made a list?”

“Sort of,” Ernie said.

  1. I miss loving the Jesus I say I love.

  2. I miss loving people inside the church.

  3. I miss receiving encouragement.

  4. I miss giving encouragement.

  5. I miss caring for the poor and needy.

  6. I miss getting care when I’m poor and needy. And maybe most importantly,

  7. I miss showing others what God has accomplished in me in spite of me.

In other words I’m missing benefits and perks I could be, should be enjoying.”

I cleared my throat. “Hmm, interesting.”

“I avoid church because I have this nagging suspicion that the church is

  • only concerned about my money and

  • is full of hypocrites,” Ernie said.

“Yeah, those are points I’ve heard and witnessed.”

“Yes,” Ernie concluded, “Nonetheless, I believe I’m hurting myself the most by not participating because the church creates opportunities I cannot experience anywhere else.”

“So you’re saying benefits and perks are missed by missing church.”

The bus pulled up and we got on to head to work.

 

Bonus Song:

 

 

How to Have Friendship with Benefits

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A few minutes before 8:00 PM Ernie and I were sitting in recliner chairs in my basement family room looking up at a 55” TV screen waiting for the tip-off of the U. of A. basketball game. I’d muted the sound while the commercials ran and that’s when Ernie said, “You know our friendship with Jesus has benefits.”

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Did I hear him right? Questioning I said, “Say what?”

“Friendship with Jesus has benefits.” Ernie repeated.

Playing along I said, “Benefits like what?”

Not hesitating Ernie said, “Peace of Mind.”

I scratched my chin. “Peace of mind?”

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I glanced at the TV screen. A car insurance ad was on. I could see peripherally that Ernie was looking at me. “Yes, as in freedom from doubt and worry,” he said.

Distracted, I said, “Wow, that’d be nice, huh? … Anything else?”

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“Um absolutely, you want another benefit?”

“Sure. Why not?” The TV looked like the announcers we’re highlighting the basketball players that were about to take the court.

“OK, well, how about the benefit of kindness.”

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I admit I didn’t give Ernie my full attention. Still, I sort of paid attention. “Hum. How does kindness work?”

Ernie rushed to say, “Let me give you one more … self-control.”

Annoyed I said, “So how do you get these benefits, peace of mind, kindness, and self-control?”

Ernie looked serious. “Benefits are made possible by the Holy Spirit.”

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A little offended my face flushed. “Wait a second, that’s a given.”

Ernie ignored me. “The genuine benefits are a result of cooperating with the Holy Spirit.”

“Sure, I get that.”

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“Jesus said it this way, remember? ‘Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. John 15:4-5.’”

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I protested. “Come on Ernie, I know this.”

“We miss out on benefits we could be enjoying because we don’t cooperate with the Holy Spirit and doubt that Jesus makes any difference in our every day life. In our relationships at work, in our marriage, or with most anything else.”

“So, you’re saying I’m missing benefits?”

“I’m afraid so.” Ernie wrapped it up by saying, “Our relationship with Jesus has benefits that offer us, among other things, peace of mind, kindness, and self-control.”

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“OK … fascinating.” I admitted, without committing. I hit the mute on the TV remote. Our team controlled the tip off. I would have to think later about this concept of ‘Friendship with benefits’ and what I may be missing.

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Bonus song: Angela Cruz All His Benefits

Audio:

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Maybe this has happened to you, maybe not.

I’ve become frustrated because I have this extraordinary wealth from God and haven’t learned how to take hold of it.

What I’m saying is all my religious learning and practice hasn’t made me savvy enough to open up the treasure chest Christ has made available to me.

This treasure chest, which will meet my every need and desire and hope, is visible before me.

Time and again I’m disappointed because, although I know this treasure exists, I don’t know how to use it. That’s nuts.

So, I’ve decided it’s time to change my behavior. It’s time to stop living in poverty (so to speak) … especially spiritually.

I mean imagine what would happen if I actually began to take and apply what God has handed over to me in Christ Jesus?

Thinking about this I spent a few minutes listing real possessions I should be enjoying. Then afterwards, I examined what I’d written.

Then I cried.

I cried because the list is long of what I could delight in, but don’t.

This makes me sad.

It makes me sad because I could have better.

I want God’s best … how about you?

Thanks for listening to Lee’s Nite Radio.

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