faith

Devotional for August 10

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Show Me the Way I Should Go

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We struggle against the darkness of a world-wide culture of death that seeks to enslave us all with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. As a remedy, the world only offers lies and vanities. Freedom comes when you no longer desire to be like the popular of this world, and are totally liberated from the human hamster wheel known in America as “keeping up with the Joneses.” Those who don’t come to know Jesus Christ will find themselves going round and round chasing the same vanities as the rest of the world day after day, and year after year. Let it not be so with us, brothers and sisters. Let us look up, and live in the joyful expectation of the hope that the Lord has placed within us.

Question

How does faith grow stronger?

Answer

Faith increases in proportion to our willingness to tolerate the testing of it (Scripture). When we understand the conditional requirements of faith (Scripture), then we can actually praise God even in the face of the fatigue and discomfort that so often accompanies the buffeting feelings and circumstances that test our faith (Scripture). 1st condition: Faith is given to us so that we can fulfill our great commission to serve as ambassadors, stewards, and teachers of Jesus Christ (Scripture). Second condition: Faith must be properly placed: adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting in Almighty God (Scripture). Third condition: Load and fire, that is to first pray and then command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

O Lord, My God, You Are Very Great 

16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. Psalm 104:16-31 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Some ask: “Can’t I just take a pill, have my stomach stapled, or get this belly fat sucked out of me?” Such people want to gain the fruit without working for the harvest. They want the well-being without having to turn to the lifestyle that produces it. They want the ends without the God appointed means of grace. This is the way of Cain. He sought to worship God as his own heart desired, and not the way that God commanded. Woe to the clay that rebels in such a way against the Potter. Wise is the one who chooses the God ordained narrow path that leads to eternal life. The tempestuous winds of this world will often buffet us, but blessed be our Rock. Know for certain that abiding in our Lord Jesus Christ is our guarantee of a safe haven amidst every storm. Come out from every other place. By faith abide in Christ alone. 

Question

What is prayer?

Answer

Prayer is an attitude and a privilege (Scripture). Whereby we can stir up the gift of God, which is the Holy Spirit  (Scripture), and mentally ascend into the realm of the third heaven to actually FaceTime with the living God (Scripture). No soldier is properly equipped without a means of communication with his commander (Scripture). Prayer is the push-to-talk radio of the soldier of Jesus Christ (Scripture). A parked car cannot be steered, neither  can the Christian Soldier by led unless he is walking in the Spirit (Scripture). And finally, prayer is the humbling of self under the mighty hand of God (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 8

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Tremble at the Presence of the Lord

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Psalm 103:6-19 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

From zero to hero on whatever track you choose, always happens the same way. In the beginning, there is awkwardness. As an intermediate, nothing news worthy can be seen. However, with continual focus on making small improvements every day, champions are forged over time. This process requires patience. Patience is easy for those who have found rest in the Lord. Learn to gladly confess your weakness and trust in the Lord with your whole heart. Understand this, that getting upset or discouraged over your failure to rightfully perform even the simplest of God’s commands, is the hidden underbelly of pride. Those who pity self in weakness, will also exalt self when made strong. Open our eyes Lord, and let us see the truth. Grant us a heart to repent. That we may know it is only by turning from all sin and accepting our own weakness that the power of Christ can rest upon us. If it comes quick or if it is delayed, be determined to stay in the love of God, come when and what may. 

Question

What is the fear and trembling produced by salvation?

Answer

Knowledge of the infinite greatness of Almighty God produces a reverent fear (Scripture). Trembling is a carefulness produced by understanding our inability to be holy apart from the mercy and grace of God (Scripture). Worshiping the Lord with godly fear and trembling is to worship in spirit and truth with a carefulness to have all our ways conform to His righteousness (Scripture). That is the salvation not available to the fallen angels who are only filled with hatred and dread of their impending everlasting doom (Scripture). Fear and trembling are the brightness of noonday that follows the dawn of salvation where we experience the blessing of reverence and godly fear that is given in answer to prayer (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Way of the Righteous and End of the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Having enough money is desirable, but no amount of money is enough to purchase eternal salvation. Only the credit that comes by way of the Cross of Jesus Christ can do that. His blood shed on the Cross is therefore, precious beyond all measure. By grace we are saved through faith. He has bestowed His love upon us and we are healed. Worldly desires are vain. To believe otherwise is to be deceived. God uses everything for good for those who love Him. And if you have Jesus, you certainly have all that you need. Therefore, rejoice! Let the redeemed of the Lord praise His holy name now and forever more!

Question

Is money the answer for everything?

Answer

Money is the answer for all questions of how to please the flesh (Scripture). Money is a useful tool (Scripture), but it can easily be turned into an idol when the affections of the heart are set upon it (Scripture). Money is like fire useful for cooking (Scripture), but it can also burn up everything when out of control (Scripture). Money is strength (Scripture), but without temperance it is only cruel and harmful (Scripture). Money increases might (Scripture), just never forget that in the end it cannot save anyone (Scripture). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

All the People See His Glory

97 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Psalm 97:1-6, 11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Strength is the jewel of youth. By adding wisdom, strength is fastened into a crown of honor for the mature. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, the opportunity has been given for exchanging one’s own strength for divine strength, and for exchanging the prideful chains of the self-life for the shining wings of righteousness. Seek happiness and it will flee from you. Seek righteousness first just as the word of God commands, and happiness will be added to you. As a preliminary step, the Master bids you to count the cost. A total surrender of your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ is a non-negotiable requirement. This will be hard for flesh and impossible for the carnal mind to accept, but once done most everyone wishes they had chosen to do it sooner. Humble yourself therefore, under the mighty hand of God. He will make you perfect, which means to establish, strengthen, and settle you for all good works in due time.

Question

How can we be sure in a world full of increasing uncertainty?

Answer

The full assurance of faith comes from believing the testimonies that Jesus Christ has risen (Scripture). When it comes to the Holy Bible, believing only some of the gospel while denying other parts always produces a wavering faith (Scripture). Faithful in little, faithful in much, as well as every little stroke and every incredible revelation of the Word of God is truth from beginning to end (Scripture). Complete assurance follows complete belief (Scripture). Taste it and you will see (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God Gives Power and Strength to His People

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. Psalm 68:19-23; 32-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The world is full of vanity and lies. Let us turn from them and turn toward God with our whole heart. You have to stand firm in faith long enough to get to a point where the narrow way that leads to eternal life becomes so enjoyable that it eliminates the desire for all that is contrary. The love of God compels us to do this from within, and not just from external motive of outward conformity to the rules. All who hold fast to faith come to the place where there is an eagerness to sacrifice lesser things for greater things. We gladly give up the old life trapped in sin for the much greater new life lived in the freedom purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. Faith in God is required from beginning to end. God is more willing to give than we are to receive. God is willing to give more abundantly than we can ask or think. Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided us with the ability to meet the conditions, which is to take His yoke upon us so that we can learn from Him. We can be sure that if we chose it, He will fulfill His promise to lead us into all righteousness. Praise and glory be to God for His love and faithfulness, which endures forever.

Question

Where does our faith come from?

Answer

Faith is a gift from God (Scripture). All have faith (Scripture), but not all have faith in God (Scripture). Faith is to humans what instincts are to animals (Scripture). The soul is restless according to the saints of old (Scripture), until it comes to rest in God by faith (Scripture). What God said to Gideon (Scripture), He says to all: “Go in the faith you have and you shall reap in due time” (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My Help Comes from the Lord

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Inconvenience is a rubber bumper that helps to keep us in the will of God. Prayer and rejoicing is called for when faced with difficulties and trying times, because only then can faith in God be exercised. Faith will praise and thank the Lord after prayer and before any evidence of deliverance can be seen. This is how our elders were able to obtain a good report, by trusting the Lord and rejoicing before seeing His blessings. They reasoned and agreed with God. Complainers unwittingly agree with the devil. Broken plans are a part of life. Get over it, let go of what you can’t and make the best use of what you’ve got. God will always provide you what you need. Realize if you always have what you think you need before you start, you would never learn to trust God. The counsel of the ungodly is to make it happen for yourself, and the world will applauded those who appear to do just that. This illusion of control is a house built on the sand though. The righteous cling to the truth that God alone is in control of all things. They stand in the readiness that comes from the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, praying for every need and waiting on the Lord with joyful expectation. God has predestined us to bear the appointed fruit in the appropriate season. Not one second early, not one second late, but precisely at the proper time. Do you believe the Scriptures? 

Question

What does faith do?

Answer

Faith must follow-through (Scripture). Faith is the eye that sees (Scripture), and the hand that receives (Scripture). Faith starts and ends with love (Scripture). Faith is the surety and assurance for confidently taking the 3-point shot (Scripture), and glorifying God with praise and thanksgiving is like the follow-though motion that completes every successful 3-pointer (Scripture), which ensures faith doesn’t end before the ball passes though the spiritual hoop called hope and sinks into the net of this physical world (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Way of the Righteous

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Take a few moments right now to pause and consider just some of what you’ve been taking for granted. If you rolled out of bed this morning and were able to fill your belly with food, somewhere there are people who would think that a beautiful day. When you lose sight of those who are less fortunate than you and only see those who are more fortunate, you will be one ungrateful and unhappy mess. Leave all complaining against the providence of God to the unbelievers. Count some of your blessings you have been taking for granted.  Let your heart be fill with gratitude so your mind can be filled with peace and contentment. This too is a gift of God from whom all blessings flow.

Question

How do we increase our contentment?

Answer

Ruthlessly eliminate distraction (Scripture). Let the advertisements you can’t avoid roll off you like water off the back of a duck (Scripture). Vain pursuits, vain passions, vain thoughts, look to the left, look to the right, all that is of this world is continuously streamed from giant screens on the wall to small screens held in the hand (Scripture). The volume of the messages of the world must be purposely turned down if one is to hear wisdom (Scripture). There is no contentment without godliness (Scripture), because without godliness people are ruled by the flesh, which can never have enough (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

fitness

Orangetheory Fitness Tryout

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My original post about my first experience at Orangetheory Fitness didn’t save properly. I’ve been having a few technical glitches for the past couple of days with my blog. I should have been saving more often (moving to hit the button now). Okay, let’s do this again.

Orangetheory Fitness is a group workout built on the research that 12 minutes of work spent at the upper end of maximum heart rate (what they call the orange and red zones) will produce an increase in metabolism for a longer period of time after the workout (what they call the afterburn) that isn’t possible with a low intensity level of exercise. Add a little resistance training and boom, you have an effect full body workout that takes about an hour.

I was asked to arrive early for paperwork and orientation for my first workout. I signed the customary waivers of liability, received a tour of the place, and then offered a body scan to determine my body composition. Nothing like seeing the numbers to snap you out of complacency with being slack with your diet. Wakeup call received. Time for me to tighten up my food habits where I’ve gotten too slack. The picture below is the summary.

No time to cry about my body scan results. They strapped a heart rate monitor on my arm and it was time to go. So, each Orangetheory workout session is predetermined and led by a coach. This takes all the guesswork, planning, and preparation out of having a consistent workout routine. The day I was there the coach called it a “Run-Row” workout. There were about 16 of us present for that workout. We were divided into two groups. The first group started with the treadmill and rower, and the second group started with bodyweight and dumbbells. I was with the second group.

The bodyweight and dumbbell movements were somewhat familiar to me. Not the specific moves, but they were all variations of movements I have done lots of times in the past. I choose weights that I taught would be moderately heavy. I wanted a good workout, but still leave a little gas in the tank for whatever came next. Glad I did. I spent the entire 30 minutes of that resistance session in the gray zone. That all changed rather quickly when my group moved to the treadmill and rower circuit though.

When the coach explained the treadmill base/push and incline/speed combinations before we started the workout, it seemed simple enough. When the music started bumping and I was jogging up and down though, I couldn’t read anything on the instruction sheet. I’m going to blame that on the orange lighting, not my eyesight. Could have been a little bit of both. So, I decided to run until I got my heart rate up into the orange zone and then just try to keep it there for the predetermined 0.6-mile distance. It wasn’t the designed protocol, but it worked. Since I only recently started running again, nothing seems to increase my heart rate as fast. The coach came to check on me a couple times as everyone’s heart rate was on a big screen in the gym. I assured her I was alright, but I was really glad to get on the rower. It was only a 200 meter row and a very welcome break for me from the more intense running on the treadmill. 

The Orangetheory app is a good addition. It automatically synced the workout to my phone. There are also some follow along workouts you can access for free if you want to try some of their workouts at home. Nice little app. Here’s an export from the app of my in-studio workout:

Orange Theory Workout Summary

Overall, I was impressed with the Orangetheory Fitness program, execution, and environment. I thought the loud music would bother me, it didn’t though. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It was the kind of upbeat inspirational workout music I used to listen to when I was a gym rat about 10 years ago. It really has been a long time since I’ve been in a gym. When I moved to Thailand, I didn’t have easy access to a gym. That being the case, I got used to home workouts. Continued with the home workouts after returning to the US just out of the convenience. It was nice to spice things up with a little Orangetheory.