Muscular Christianity

Regardless of the subject matter, the fundamental dispute is how you define truth - either according to what is real or how you feel.

While the authenticity of Scripture is beyond dispute, some will still refuse to accept it as credible. But there are other resources that one can use to validate the Reality of the Resurrection.

While some want to insist that faith is an excuse to not think, you can't function as a human being without deploying some measure of faith, even in the context of what do in our every day lives.

Regardless of the subject matter, the fundamental dispute is how you define truth - either according to what is real or how you feel.

Socialism lies about what things are worth, who you are, and what you're able to do. The only people who subscribe to Socialism are those who want to believe the lies.

#30 The Office | Part II | Honor your employer. Don’t just work hard, work well and don’t expect an accolade for simply doing your job. That’s why you get paid. Be the sort of employee that you would hire, regardless of who notices or who isn’t paying attention. Take pride in what you do because it’s when you’re deploying your best that you are honoring the One who has you in that position right now for a reason – and it’s not just to draw attention to yourself or to pay some bills. You’re there because He has a Purpose for you and those you interact with.

#30 The Office | Part II | Honor your employer. Don’t just work hard, work well and don’t expect an accolade for simply doing your job. That’s why you get paid. Be the sort of employee that you would hire, regardless of who notices or who isn’t paying attention. Take pride in what you do because it’s when you’re deploying your best that you are honoring the One who has you in that position right now for a reason – and it’s not just to draw attention to yourself or to pay some bills. You’re there because He has a Purpose for you and those you interact with.

#29 The Office | Part I | Think of your typical day as a house with your conventional collection of rooms. You’ve got the kitchen, the garage, the office, your bedroom, the playroom etc. Each room represents a specific collection of duties and opportunities that logically fall under the heading that particular room’s theme implies. Depending on where you’re at in life, the “office” is either your job or your schooling. How does a “Muscular Christian” operate in the marketplace / classroom that constitutes a sound application of Biblical principles? And how does that equate to an “out of the park” performance that gets people curious as to what’s under the hood?

#29 The Office | Part I | Think of your typical day as a house with your conventional collection of rooms. You’ve got the kitchen, the garage, the office, your bedroom, the playroom etc. Each room represents a specific collection of duties and opportunities that logically fall under the heading that particular room’s theme implies. Depending on where you’re at in life, the “office” is either your job or your schooling. How does a “Muscular Christian” operate in the marketplace / classroom that constitutes a sound application of Biblical principles? And how does that equate to an “out of the park” performance that gets people curious as to what’s under the hood?

#28 Perpetually Poised on the Threshold of Great Things | As you’ve put some thought into how you would articulate what you believe and why you believe it, hopefully you’ve included something of the motivating Strength that, not only supports you when you’re struggling, but also positions you in a way where you’re perpetually poised on the threshold of great things (2 Cor 3:18).

#28 Perpetually Poised on the Threshold of Great Things | As you’ve put some thought into how you would articulate what you believe and why you believe it, hopefully you’ve included something of the motivating Strength that, not only supports you when you’re struggling, but also positions you in a way where you’re perpetually poised on the threshold of great things (2 Cor 3:18).

#27 What Would Your Billboard Say? | If you had to create a billboard that promoted a relationship with Christ, what would it say? Imagine you couldn’t say anything about going to Heaven or how God helps you with your problems…How is that billboard going to read?

#26 Put Some Offense on the Field | There’s more to life than simply “healing” all the time. You can’t allow yourself to be in sick bay every day of the week. At some point, you’ve got to get your boots on. Put some offense on the field and put some distance between yourself and the idea that life is nothing more than defending yourself against attacks, trials and difficulties.

#26 Put Some Offense on the Field | There’s more to life than simply “healing” all the time. You can’t allow yourself to be in sick bay every day of the week. At some point, you’ve got to get your boots on. Put some offense on the field and put some distance between yourself and the idea that life is nothing more than defending yourself against attacks, trials and difficulties.

#25 When Things Are Going South | Part II | Yesterday we looked at how life is like a string of Christmas lights: You’re either dealing with one problem at a time, or the whole of life starts to go south and you’re hanging by a thread. What makes the difference is the amount of time and energy you invest in focusing on the Truth. Talk to your Creator. Access the peace that passes understanding and the Strength that goes beyond anything you could muster up on your own.

#25 When Things Are Going South | Part II | Yesterday we looked at how life is like a string of Christmas lights: You’re either dealing with one problem at a time, or the whole of life starts to go south and you’re hanging by a thread. What makes the difference is the amount of time and energy you invest in focusing on the Truth. Talk to your Creator. Access the peace that passes understanding and the Strength that goes beyond anything you could muster up on your own.

#24 When Things Are Going South | Part I | It’s all fine and good to say that God’s in control and He’s got a Plan when everything is going well. But what happens when everything goes south and you’re doing all you can to maintain an even disposition? How’s that “Plan” looking now?

#23 The Good Works of Tim Tebow | Tim Tebow did more than complete passes. His approach allowed the Reality of His King to become apparent. Approach your day from a perspective that intentionally perceives the Divine elements that transform your actions into "works" and let that shape your outlook. It's a different kind of day when you're aware of your activity as being more meaningful than simply putting some points on the board.

#22 True Agenda | “Muscular Christianity” is all about making God look good by excelling in everything you do, think and say. It’s taking the substance and the scope of Matthew 5:16 along with 2 Corinthians 9:8 and recognizing that “good deeds” refers to anything that’s done well to the point that it reflects positively on your Heavenly Father.

#22 True Agenda | “Muscular Christianity” is all about making God look good by excelling in everything you do, think and say. It’s taking the substance and the scope of Matthew 5:16 along with 2 Corinthians 9:8 and recognizing that “good deeds” refers to anything that’s done well to the point that it reflects positively on your Heavenly Father.

#21 That You May Know | For the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the question, “How do you know?” from the standpoint of three different perspectives: The Substance of Scripture, The Character of God, The Conclusions of Science. You have an intelligent faith. Do not do yourself the disservice of regarding your faith as an anemic mist that cannot be validated as both credible and substantial. So, be ready to answer the question: "How do you know?"

#20 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part III | Richard Dawkins, the author of "The God Delusion," sneers at those who subscribe to the idea of a Creator because it leaves the question of, “Who created the Creator?” unanswered. And yet, he attempts to explain the origin of life by simply saying that “it happened,” and that is supposed to suffice as the more enlightened and scientifically acceptable alternative.

#20 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part III | Richard Dawkins, the author of "The God Delusion," sneers at those who subscribe to the idea of a Creator because it leaves the question of, “Who created the Creator?” unanswered. And yet, he attempts to explain the origin of life by simply saying that “it happened,” and that is supposed to suffice as the more enlightened and scientifically acceptable alternative.

#19 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part II | The atheist is philosophically invested in Evolution. However compelling the evidence may be that reveals their perspective as being flawed, they will not yield, given the adjustments that would need to be made if, in fact, God does exist. But you can nevertheless make some progress by asking the right questions.

#19 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part II | The atheist is philosophically invested in Evolution. However compelling the evidence may be that reveals their perspective as being flawed, they will not yield, given the adjustments that would need to be made if, in fact, God does exist. But you can nevertheless make some progress by asking the right questions.

#18 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | The Theory of Evolution is even less convincing today than it was 150 years ago. Yet, this is the explanation that non-believers insist is more credible than the concept of Creator. Why...?

The Bible doesn't cut itself any slack in being anything other than the "Word of God." Still, some want to question its Substance by insisting that is "full of errors" and therefore unreliable. But upon closer inspection, these "errors" have explanations that not only validate the content, but make it even richer and more compelling.

The elegance and intricacy of the universe, the precision of creation, and the archaeological finds that testify to the historical accuracy of the Bible make for a very compelling case that what we believe as Christians is absolutely true.

The New Testament dwarfs every other work of antiquity, in terms of its contextual accuracy. It's validated by Archaeology, the content is vetted by a strict set of criteria, and proclaimed throughout history as being the very Words of God.

Considering the testimony of Archaeology, Science, and the fulfilled prophecies pertaining to Christ as reliable proof that the Bible is all that it claims to be.

#17 Ask a Canaanite | Part III | Regardless of how harsh God's Judgment was against the Canaanites, the fact was they were living a life and reviering a standard that taunted the Reality of God. While grace is always available, it is possible to incur the wrath of your Heavenly Father. How? Ask a Canaanite!

#17 Ask a Canaanite | Part III | Regardless of how harsh God's Judgment was against the Canaanites, the fact was they were living a life and reviering a standard that taunted the Reality of God. While grace is always available, it is possible to incur the wrath of your Heavenly Father. How? Ask a Canaanite!

#16 Ask a Canaanite | Part II | Anytime you hear somone suggest that God is cruel, you need to remind them of the cross. It's there where He demonstrates His True Character and Compassion.

#16 Ask a Canaanite | Part II | Anytime you hear somone suggest that God is cruel, you need to remind them of the cross. It's there where He demonstrates His True Character and Compassion.

#15 Ask a Canaanite | Critics like Richard Dawkins seem to have a point when they assert the idea that God can be unreasonably harsh, especially when you look at the way God worked through the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites. But upon closer inspection, you can see why God's Justice is not as outrageous as it might appear.

#15 Ask a Canaanite | Critics like Richard Dawkins seem to have a point when they assert the idea that God can be unreasonably harsh, especially when you look at the way God worked through the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites. But upon closer inspection, you can see why God's Justice is not as outrageous as it might appear.

#14 The Canon | The need to establish a standard that insisted every book of the New Testament be authored by an apostle or a close associate was not an attempt to market a human perspective, but to eliminate anything other than the Words of God as documented by either those who had seen the risen Christ, or worked alongside those who did.

#14 The Canon | The need to establish a standard that insisted every book of the New Testament be authored by an apostle or a close associate was not an attempt to market a human perspective, but to eliminate anything other than the Words of God as documented by either those who had seen the risen Christ, or worked alongside those who did.

#13 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part II) | Part II of how Chuck Colson's own imprisonment and his first hand account of how the power of self-preservation effectively eliminates any doubt as to the Truth of Christ's resurrection, especially given the way the disciples initially fled, but then could not be silenced even in the face of relentless persecution.

#13 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part II) | Part II of how Chuck Colson's own imprisonment and his first hand account of how the power of self-preservation effectively eliminates any doubt as to the Truth of Christ's resurrection, especially given the way the disciples initially fled, but then could not be silenced even in the face of relentless persecution.

#12 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part I) | Chuck Colson witnessed first hand the overwhelming influence of self-preservation in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and knew that the disciples would never endure 40 years persecution unless Jesus had, in fact, risen from the grave!

#12 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part I) | Chuck Colson witnessed first hand the overwhelming influence of self-preservation in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and knew that the disciples would never endure 40 years persecution unless Jesus had, in fact, risen from the grave!

#11 The Wisdom of the Wise | The passages in Scripture that seem either nonsensical or contradictory can either be resolved or better understood, but you have to be willing to do some research and not just assume that you're right and the Scriptures are flawed.

#10 Unwelcome and Foolish | In many instances, critics are psychologically invested in proving the Scriptures to be flawed because they view the notion of God to be intrusive and a threat to the way they view themselves and the world around them. The Resurrection is especially unwelcome because of the way it compels an acceptance of Christ as Lord. But they cannot logically doubt the text of the New Testament without simultaneously dismissing the majority of ancient literature as fundamentally flawed.

#10 Unwelcome and Foolish | In many instances, critics are psychologically invested in proving the Scriptures to be flawed because they view the notion of God to be intrusive and a threat to the way they view themselves and the world around them. The Resurrection is especially unwelcome because of the way it compels an acceptance of Christ as Lord. But they cannot logically doubt the text of the New Testament without simultaneously dismissing the majority of ancient literature as fundamentally flawed.

#9 All Scripture | All Scripture is God breathed...That's a bold claim, but when you look at the way we validate works of antiquity, you can't doubt the integrity of God's Word without calling into question every ancient text that is embraced without question despite they're not being nearly as well authenticated.

#9 All Scripture | All Scripture is God breathed...That's a bold claim, but when you look at the way we validate works of antiquity, you can't doubt the integrity of God's Word without calling into question every ancient text that is embraced without question despite they're not being nearly as well authenticated.

#8 How Do You Know? | How do you know that what you believe is true? Is the Bible the Word of God? Did Jesus really rise from the grave? This series looks answers those questions.

#8 How Do You Know? | How do you know that what you believe is true? Is the Bible the Word of God? Did Jesus really rise from the grave? This series looks answers those questions.

#7 Profound Thinking | "Positive Thinking" can get you into a better mood, but it's "Profound Thinking" that can truly alter the way you're processing your circumstances.