Category: Men of Steel

Common Phrases from the Bible

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I can imagine that nearly every newspaper and magazine in the English-speaking world uses a word or phrase in every issue that originated in the Bible. Consider how many of the following words and phrases, all first found in the Bible, have made their way into our everyday conversation. (Note the phrase may be from the King James Version rather than what you see in the popup window).

  1. Adoption (Romans 8:15)
  2. A drop in the bucket (Isaiah 40:15)
  3. A fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1)
  4. A man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)
  5. A multitude of sins (James 5:20)
  6. A thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)
  7. All things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:22)
  8. Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4: 9)
  9. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth (Matthew 5:38)
  10. As old as Methuselah (Genesis 5:25-27)
  11. As old as the hills (Job 15:7)
  12. As you sow so shall you reap (Galatians 6:7)
  13. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust (Genesis 3:19)
  14. At his wits end (Psalms 107:27)
  15. Beat swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4)
  16. Bite the dust (Psalm 72:9)
  17. Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
  18. By the skin of your teeth (Job 19:20)
  19. Can a leopard change its spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
  20. Eat drink and be merry (Luke 12:19)
  21. Faith will move mountains (Matthew 21:21)
  22. Fall from grace (Galatians 5:4)
  23. Fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12)
  24. Flesh and blood (Matthew 16:17)
  25. For everything there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
  26. Forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:3)
  27. From strength to strength (Psalm 84:7)
  28. Give up the ghost (Acts 12:23)
  29. Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-33)
  30. Holier than thou (Isaiah 65:5)
  31. House divided (Luke 11:17)
  32. How are the mighty fallen (2 Samuel 1:19)
  33. Liberty (Leviticus 25:10)
  34. Living off the fat of the land (Genesis 45:17-18)
  35. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
  36. Love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10)
  37. Man does not live by bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3)
  38. Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14)
  39. My cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5)
  40. Neither a borrower nor a lender be (Jeremiah 15:10)
  41. Network (Exodus 27:4)
  42. No rest for the wicked (Isaiah 57:20)
  43. Nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
  44. O ye, of little faith (Matthew 6:30)
  45. Out of the mouths of babes (Psalm 8:2)
  46. Pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)
  47. Physician heal thyself (Luke 4:23)
  48. Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10)
  49. Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18:2)
  50. The apple of his eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)
  51. The blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14)
  52. The bread of life (John 6:35)
  53. The fruits of your loins (Genesis 35:11)
  54. The powers that be (Romans 13:2)
  55. The root of the matter (Job 19:28)
  56. The salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
  57. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38)
  58. The hand writing is on the wall (Daniel 5:5-6)
  59. To cast the first stone (John 8:7)
  60. Two-edged sword (Proverbs 5:4)
  61. What God has joined together let no man separate (Matthew 19:6)
  62. Woe is me (Isaiah 6:5)

Surprised? Don’t be. The influence of the Bible can be found in every area of society. There is an interesting incident recorded in the Bible. In the story God is speaking to a man named Isaiah. God poetically declares the power and reach of His life-giving language. “That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” (Isaiah 55:11)

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Dealing with Conflict at Work

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We are involved in relationships all the time, and sometimes it can get messy… at home, at school, the neighborhood and at work. I have read books about how to cope with difficult people but sometimes you just might need a little practical counsel on what to do when conflict arises at work.

When facing a situation at work when people disagree over a project, course of action or decision, we sometimes find ourselves fighting to win. It can become a test of wills.

Rather than digging in the heels and insisting on our own way, an alternative is to stop for a moment and view the potential outcome in terms of what is God’s way, what is best for the organization. That is for whom we are all working, right (Colossians 3:17, 23)?

I recently read a few tips on how we can get to God’s best for the organization:

1. Stop being so defensive: Being overly defensive does not score points. Instead, it makes you look desperate and immature. Usually what is perceived as a personal attack is nothing more than an attempt to make an improvement, or it may possibly even be a legitimate point of view. Remove your ego from the situation, and see if it looks any different when you start to view the facts.

Okay, sometimes it really is a personal attack. But the rest of these tips will still work.

2. Maintain a calm tone of voice: It’s easy to get sucked into the black hole of emotions, especially when the person on the other side begins to raise their voice, use aggressive hand gestures or hostile body language. You will do much better if you can maintain a calm, confident approach, even when you are in the epicenter of outburst. Take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, count to five, and keep your cool. Controlling your voice is the key to controlling the situation. You might be surprised at the respect this will win from the other observers in the room.

3. Don’t retaliate with criticism or personal attack: In your mind, view the experience on a higher, spiritual plane instead of a simple conflict between two alpha-managers. Instead of retaliating, begin to ask probing questions, and get at the heart of the opposing point of view. Turn the conversation towards what is best for the organization, not about who will win.

4. Acknowledge the other person’s idea as legitimate: One of the most counter-intuitive things you can do in the heat of an intimidating argument is to build up the other person by giving them credit for their opinion, even if you strongly disagree. Usually that is what they are after anyway, to soothe their own ego. Try complimenting the other person on the validity of their idea, and it may very well diffuse the negativity and lead to a more productive discussion.

5. Look to God’s outcome for the situation: If God is truly present in your life and in your organization (which He is), then you must trust that he has a purpose and an outcome that is bigger than you or your co-worker. Picture yourself as the conduit for God’s grace and purpose to pour into the situation at hand, and see how that changes your attitude and the outcome.

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The Courageous Resolution

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The Resolution statements in the Courageous movie are based upon the highest priorities for men in God’s Word. Each statement describes a commitment you should resolve to live by as the leader of your home. Each of them is a call to action, and living by them will ultimately help you stand before God one day and hear him say, “WELL DONE!”

Here is the Resolution for Men:

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

  1. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
  2. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
  3. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
  4. I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
  5. I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
  6. I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
  7. I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
  8. I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
  9. I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
  10. I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
  11. I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

We embraced this resolution in 2012 because the Men of Steel have a desire to stand in the gap:

I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30).

Live a Courageous Life

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The word pandemic describes a disease outbreak that is larger in scale than expected and covers a large geographical area, often crossing international borders. It is broader in scope than an epidemic and often more threatening. The influenza outbreak of 1918 claimed in excess of 20 million lives worldwide and could easily be described as pandemic.

The is a father factor in America: Studies today prove that children living without fathers are more likely to be poor and to endure significant emotional, educational, medical, and psychological problems. Similar studies reveal that more than 24 million American children currently live without their biological fathers. That statistic is in excess of 36 percent of American children, making fatherlessness a problem of pandemic proportions.

The only solution to this widespread problem is a return to biblical fatherhood: men of courage taking a powerful stand in their homes and communities to love, lead, and protect their children and thereby eliminating the problems associated with fatherlessness.

In the Courageous movie, four men recognize this need and boldly answer the call to be better fathers. While Adam Mitchell and fellow law-enforcement officers Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller consistently give their best on their job, “good enough” seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark. They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift further and further away from them.

As is the case with these four dads, taking the principles outlined in the Bible and applying them to your life as a believer will take courage.

The Men of Steel want to pass the baton of faith to the next generation, so in 2012, we will take seriously the call to be godly husbands, fathers and leaders of our families.

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The Verse for 11/11/11

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This past Saturday (November 12) the Men of Steel had a men’s breakfast, about 25 guys came to fellowship and eat together. We discussed the Manger Build and make plans. I was also able to share a verse that I read in November 11, 2011.

So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you…” (1 Kings 11:11)

I see a challenge and a warning in this verse: On the positive side, God was speaking to Solomon even though he was not being obedient (that tells me there is hope for us, since none of us is perfect).

Look at what God says: there is a principle at work here. All Solomon had to do was stay faithful, but he was disobedient instead. The consequence was that the kingdom would be taken away from him and split in two.

As men, husbands and fathers, it is important to allow this verse to permeate our soul. It causes me to ask the question of myself: have I been obedient to what God has called me to do, as a husband and a father? The Courageous movie challenged us to resolve to be all that God wants for us to be, and that “good enough” is not acceptable.

The consequence? Could it be that our disobedience and failure to lead our families will bring about the destruction of our families? Our own little kingdom can be torn away simply because we choose to walk in disobedience. Let’s avoid this unhappy ending by walking in obedience. Be the men of God that He desires for us to be, and our wives and kids deserve. We are in this together. We do not have to walk this path alone.

Stay tuned for a re-launching of the Men of Steel.

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Our Wedding Celebration

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Saturday November 5, 2011 was one of the most joyful and proud days of my life: our son Stephen married the love of his life, Alicia Ingram.

Stephen and Alicia Chafee, November 5, 2011

Words can’t express the joy I have in my heart that Stephen has such a wonderful young woman who loves him, perhaps more than Kim and I do. Alicia is a joy and a treasure, and Stephen knows it. One thing that makes their relationship so strong is the fact that they were best friends before they became a couple.

I also can’t express in words the pride I have in Stephen for the man he has become. Last Saturday I heard person after person, friends we had known from our Woolridge Road Church days, tell me what a fine young man Stephen is. It is one thing for me to have these feelings, but it is quite another for other people to affirm what I already know.

Maybe all of us married men need to look back at our wedding day and remember all the reasons that we got married in the first place. Remember the anticipation, the fun, the fear, and the joy of journeying together as best friends and partners. Reflect on and rejoice in the wife of your youth (Proverbs 5:18), and then go tell her what she means to you.

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Why the Steve Jobs Biography?

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I recently discovered that Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of the Apple empire, spent a lot of time toward the end of his life allowing research for his own biography. Why you might ask? Check out this article, re-posted here:

When Steve Jobs official biography was announced, everyone wondered why the notoriously private Steve Jobs would let Walter Isaacson interview him over 40 times, let Isaacson talk to family and friends and pretty much have unprecedented access to Jobs’ entire life. Turns out Jobs had a very personal reason.

Isaacson saw him a few weeks before Jobs passed and finally asked him that very question, “Why had he been so eager, during close to 50 interviews and conversations over the course of two years, to open up so much for a book when he was usually so private?” Steve Jobs responded:

“I wanted my kids to know me,” he said. “I wasn’t always there for them, and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did.”

With all the things Jobs did in his life, it’s nice to see his heart was in the right place at the end.

Another writer in the Daily Mail (from the UK) goes on to say that the book is ultimately a love letter to his family. He wasn’t there for his family, but now his children will be able to read all about him in this posthumous biography in order to get to know their dad.

Steve Jobs left behind over $6 billion in personal assets. That’s more money than many of us will ever see in our lifetimes combined, but none of his huge fortune will buy a relationship with his children now. Steve Jobs made choices which earned him a lot of money, but apparently he alienated his family in the process. How sad.

Can you imagine the regret you would feel if you spent your last days apologizing to your family for not being there? With all of the advanced technology, Steve Jobs never created an app that would build a relationship with his children.

This story is shared for only one reason: don’t buy into the lie that your job, hobbies, money, financial success, business, fame, pleasure or prestige are worth sacrificing your relationships with your wife and children.

Too many of us fathers make these same poor choices. Maybe your father made poor choices as well, so you are merely passing on the family tradition.

Steve Job’s position at work has already been replaced, and Apple will continue to grow and develop new products for our enjoyment and productivity, but his family lost an irreplaceable person. Don’t be that guy.

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Courageous Movie Trailer

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King’s Grant Baptist Church has a license to show the feature film Courageous. It is free, and space is limited. Join us on Friday, January 20, 2012, at 7:00 pm. This film can be a significant event in the lives of our men and families in the Little Neck community. It will challenge men to strive to be more than “just good enough” as fathers and husbands.

Here is the movie trailer: