My Brother’s Keeper

Am I my brother's keeper?

Well, that depends. In reality, just because I say I am, that doesn't mean I'm effective in the role. First, let us take a moment to consider what exactly a keeper is. My good friend Google defines a keeper as: a person who looks after something or someone. Synonyms include: guardian, steward and caretaker. So let's ask ourselves again this way:

Am I my brother's guardian?

Am I my brother's steward?

Am I my brother's caretaker?

We read in Genesis 4:8-10, "Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'I don’t know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother’s keeper?' The Lord said, 'What have you done?' …"

The arrogance of man leads us to ask God ignorant questions, practically mocking Him. Understanding God knows all, Cain retorts to God's inquiry of his brother's whereabouts with, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" No Cain, you weren't.

In Batman Begins, Batman was on a doomed train with his adversary and says, "I don't have to kill you, but I don't have to save you either." Often times, this fits our lives. We may not have killed our brothers like Cain, but have we saved them?

God asks, "What have you done?"

Again, knowing full well the actions Cain had taken, God asks him that question. Being a keeper is more than being there - it's being present. It's more than talking to someone - it's speaking into them. It's more than instructing - also correcting them. You are their phone call in the middle of the week that encourages them. You are their coach, teammate and referee. You are their keeper ,and being their keeper is doing!

What have you done?

Are you killing your brother? Are you not saving him?

With so much turmoil in the world, here in the US, in our communities and even in our homes, the world is in desperate need of keepers!

(That goes for you too sisters ;-) God bless)

Prayer
Father, my prayer is simply this, help me to be a keeper. 

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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He Will Flee!

In the Battle at Marathon, the Persian horde had sent their best warriors to confront the Athenian resistance. After a fierce battle, the Athenian warriors lost 192 men in the fight. The Persian army had 6,000 of their men fall! After facing defeat, they retreated. As they retreated, their rear flank was cut down, and many of their ships were captured. This retreat was pivotal in the turning of the tide and the breaking of the army.

Retreat!

I imagine what it would have taken to make the bravest soldiers in a mega army run away from battle. This was perhaps the first time these elite fighters ever had to. It wasn't in their nature.

Neither should it be in ours!

I was reading over two passages. The first being:

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

The second:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:10-17

It was after re-reading the first that the second had added meaning. I can remember attending a women’s self defense class (I was the punching bag), and the instructor told the women that best defense is not getting into a dangerous situation in the first place. However, if you do find yourself there, take no shame in running away from the situation if it preserves your safety. Flee from the danger. In this instance, the scripture reminds us that our best defense is submitting to one whose power can truly defend us, and it will be the ENEMY WHO HAS TO FLEE! In this case running isn't a great exercise to practice.

Now we can reread the Ephesians passage with a bolder eye. Equipment check: Belt (check), breastplate (check), foot wear (check), shield (check), weapon (check), helmet (check), and back protector…ehhh. Strangely, Paul, this Roman citizen who would have seen full officer attire, left out the back piece. The main source of torso protection was the breastplate and a second connecting piece to protect the back. Oddly enough, this complete version of the armor was mostly worn by officers - those not in the battle or on the front lines.

There is protection for us in the battle but none to cover our retreat. Perhaps we aren't a people called to retreat. Perhaps we are to resist the devil so vigorously that he flees the battle like those mighty Athenians who stood firm against the largest fighting force they had ever seen. Proverbs 28:1 says this, "The wicked run away...but the godly are as bold as lions."

Brothers and sisters, let's be as bold as lions. Stand your ground. Defend your faith. Never retreat. The battle is already won!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Put Down Your Stones

Believe it or not (and you should believe it), I struggle. I used to struggle with a great variety of issues - some spiritual and some social. Then, I realized just how linked they were. One of the most difficult issues I encountered was judging people. My problem with judging others wasn't that I did it too often, rather that I didn't understand what it was.

John 8:3-7 says:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

This is where I was tripped up!

You see, the way I understood judging meant that since I wasn't perfect, I had no right to bring up ANYTHING wrong with anyone else. My imperfections should not only limit but stifle my attempts to speak out about the behavior of others. I really missed the mark on this one! I was right in the sense that judgment was a task that I was not qualified for. Like the Pharisees in this passage, when we cast a net of judgment, we often become ensnared by it ourselves.

I was wrong because like them, my heart sat on a throne of hypocrisy as I cast down my judgments. Worse even still, I was dreadfully confused. In my lack of understanding, I had swapped a divine role with my earthly responsibility. Judging was not my job, but correction in the appropriate manner was!

James 5:19-20 says this:

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

My place is not to judge, but I do have a responsibility to correct. How can I say I love my brother if I leave him in his sin (2 Tim. 3:16-17)?  How can I say to my daughter that I love her, yet neglect to correct her (Proverbs 13:24)? I couldn't. It wouldn't be possible. As I continue to understand these truths, I would ask that you journey with me. While you do, remember that the key to this equation isn't the correction. The key to this equation is the love.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Where's the Wonder?

If I asked you about the Christmas story, I'm sure you would be able to tell me the entire story. You would remember the angels, the shepherds, the manger...no room in the inn. You have the story memorized, or worse, you have it familiarized.

"Familiarity breeds contempt. How accurate that is." - Mark Twain

Mr. Twain was definitely on to something. Familiarity is so often a great thing. It's safe and breeds comfort. I would suggest to you that it is also extremely dangerous and puts our faith in danger.

Luke 2:8-12 says:

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

We know this story ever so well. So well in fact, that it no longer amazes us. I recently read a sermon that suggested the most wonderful event in human history is losing its wonder. I sometimes think about how excited the shepherds and angels were on that night. For years, the Jewish people had been waiting for the arrival of the Messiah, and now, before their very eyes, these men saw that Savior. The angels even celebrated because of the victorious birth of their Lord. The joy and awe shouldn't stop there. Verse 10 says, "...I bring you good news that will cause great joy for ALL people."

Yes, that includes us, today and tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the story has become a habit for us to participate in and not a joyous occasion we get to celebrate. Have we missed the importance of this event? Have we missed the wonder of it?

In 1903, the Wright brothers sent a telegram back home saying they had sustained flight for the first time and that they'd be home for Christmas. When it arrived at the local paper, they were thrilled to see that the boys would be home for Christmas but overlooked the amazing fact that now men could fly.

Many of us get to this time of year, year after year, and get swept up in the gifts, the tree and even the family gatherings. We miss the amazing fact that we are remembering the birth of the Savior of the world! I pray that this Christmas, the joy of the birth of Christ breaks the levies and floods your life! I pray that it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Doing The Least Bad

"Jesus, I’m not as bad as that person..."

Maybe not in those words, but this just might be the phrase spoken around the world. How often do we compare ourselves to others? As a kid in Newark (Best city in the whole wide world!), there wasn't a basketball court you could go to that didn’t have someone shooting a basketball and exclaiming, "KOBE!" as they shot the ball. He was my generation's Michael Jordan and, therefore, was the standard of basketball supremacy. We all compared ourselves to him, and he was the standard upon which we judged skill.

Somewhere, between childhood and becoming an adult, we changed our comparative focuses. They went from desiring to be as good as Kobe, to not wanting to be as bad as the worse player. No longer did we compare ourselves to the best, rather we judged ourselves based on the worse.

Instead of doing the most good, we've settled for doing the least bad.
 
"Jesus I may not be the best, but I’m not the worse..."

That's got to count for something, right? Right? In the words of the old lady explaining Facebook to another old lady, "That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works."

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. - 2 Corinthians 10:12

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, there were several false teachers spewing their poison into any set of ears that would hear them. Paul needed the people to be weary of these people, because foolishness can be contagious. To prevent the spread of this ignorance, Paul knew the first step in prevention is identification. He was telling the people of Corinth that they will know the truth by the standard it's compared to. Paul boasted in Jesus, whereas these teachings set themselves as the standards by which all things are measured.

Like them, we compare ourselves to the wrong thing. In our minds, "If I’m not the poorest, then I'm not poor." When in reality, we are. In the same way, "If I'm not the worse, then I'm not bad at all." Even though we do a fantastic job of convincing ourselves of this, we know it isn't true.

So what then should we do?

Instead of straddling mediocrity, let us strive for excellence! Easier said than done, right? I know because #TheStruggleIsReal. Well, since we are changing perspectives, why stop now? We fear failure and disappointment. These fears make the decision to avoid striving for the standard of Jesus easier. Perhaps we should change our perspective on what we are afraid of failing to reach.

Perfection.

It's out of our reach. A place we can't get to. This is true for our earthly selves. Luckily for us, perfection isn't a destination or the last stop on a train. It's a moment-by-moment opportunity. Each of these moments is a chance to see how our actions compare to that of the one true standard, Jesus Christ!

Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However, we are commanded to try because our heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48). 

Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12-15 that this goal is worth striving for, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you."

A wise man once said, "If you're not first, you're last." Although he may have been a bit misguided, he still pointed out the truth that we should always strive to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. That's only possible if we dare to be like Jesus.

To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me.
In every thought and deed, this is my aim, my creed.
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me.
His Spirit helping me, like Him I'll be.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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This Round's On Me

When I was in college (GO KNIGHTS) my freshman year, I started the semester still 17 years old. On top of that, I didn’t have the rugged, Walker Texas Ranger looks that I have now. I was a baby-faced boy with braids weighing about 145-150lbs with my book bag on. So, it was no surprise that even after my 18th birthday, I still looked very much like a freshman…in high school.

I can remember attending an event where a plethora of drinks were made available since it took place off campus. I had never had an alcoholic beverage in my life, and I wasn’t going to start then (that’s an entirely different blog for another time). Even though I wasn’t planning on having any drinks, all the glasses, on the tables and elsewhere, were wine glasses! As the server approached, my voice which had recently been incarcerated in prepubescent prison, squeaked, “Can I get a cranberry juice?”

Harmless right?

Seemingly so. At least until I took a drink. No, it didn’t contain anything other than cranberry juice. However, someone did take a photo. I saw the photo and it looked ok, so I figured I’d put it on my newly minted Facebook page.

Still harmless, right?

Well, I also ran track, and an athlete drinking (and getting caught) was a no no. It's a good thing I didn't. I came to find out that a wine glass, half filled with cranberry juice, doesn't always look like a glass half filled with cranberry juice!

As you can tell, I didn't know much about this topic back then and still don't today, but like many, I've heard the lingo (yay movies!!!). Phrases like "Shaken not stirred," "On the rocks," or  "Straight, no chaser" are all common for the pros and James Bond characters.

Imagine coming before God and asking for a blessing, and then giving Him the recipe for it! I wonder how well that would go over.

"Lord, I didn’t ask for my blessings on the rocks. Take them back and bring me a new one."
 
"Keep your gifts, God, if they're going to be shaken or stirred"

Perhaps this is because we want our blessings straight with no work required. We want the gifts of God without doing our part. What is the root of this? Is it laziness? Is it unwillingness? I think it can be both of those things, but could it also be fear?

In Joshua 1:9, we read:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Sometimes, when God makes us an offer or promise, we fail to attain it or do our part because we are afraid to try, or we are afraid of failing. Other times, we don’t know what we are afraid of.

Just like with Joshua, God has also commanded us not to be afraid. He has done this, not because of our capabilities, but because of the promise he ends the verse with, "…the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

We don't don’t have to be afraid to do our part for God because He never intended for us to do it alone. All the blessings mentioned in Joshua 1:1-9 have "I" first, then "you." The work is initiated by God and also completed by Him. We just have to do our part! (He's there too!) 

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Not “To Get," but “Because”

God's acceptance is the power that liberates us from sin, not the reward for liberating ourselves. - JD Greear

I recently listened to a seminar on rightnow.com (I recommend this site to anyone wanting to obtain a great resource in ministry) by JD Greear, and he suggested a number of ideas. It was mostly things I agreed with but never had heard them articulated so well. I've always believed that the Gospel was inherently in opposition with the world because its source is not of this world. Meaning often, if not always, its teachings suggest we live and believe the opposite of what we might naturally do!

We say payback, the Gospel says love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. We say stay in the boat, the Gospel says step out!

Our thinking is different.

Consider the initial quote in this post. Too often, we consider the blessings of God as the goal and end result of a life well lived. When in reality, they are the basis for which our lives should be lived. Matthew 6:33 says to seek his righteousness first and 1 John says we ought to love because He first loved us. No longer let us think or see God's gifts as rewards at the end. Let us instead recognize them as the fuel injected into our spirits to power our lives thereafter!

God doesn't merely want our love and obedience. He wants us to desire to love and obey Him! Our relationship is offensive to God if it stems from coercion. He doesn’t want the love of trapped people; rather, He desires the love of the free who willingly submit themselves to Him and live for Him.

What does that look like? I believe this type of love and obedience looks unplanned. There's no scheme or hidden agenda. It is rooted in "because," not in "to get." Imagine if a child did their chores because it was one less thing their parents had to worry about, rather than to get an allowance. Now imagine if we applied this to our relationship with the Lord.

I’d like to challenge us all to live like we are accepted by God and not to get accepted by Him. Let's not pay God with our love, but let us love Him because of the price Jesus paid.

Dear Lord, you died and rose again because you loved us, not to get our allegiance. I pray that we may, in turn, live because we love you and not to get the acceptance already afforded to us by your great sacrifice.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Minority Report

Risky Business…Top Gun…Rain Man…Mission Impossible…The Last Samurai…Collateral

What do all these gems have in common? They all star our favorite couch jumper, Tom Cruise! Despite some of his more public shenanigans, he has regularly delivered on the big screen. In 2002, the film Minority Report was released. In short, of the three Pre-Cogs (future seers), the movie's revelation depended upon the report of one over what was reported by the other two. This minority report was the evidence needed for Cruise's character to topple the film's antagonist.

In Ecclesiastes 1:9 it states, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." This holds true again. In the book of Numbers, we find evidence of perhaps the earliest inspiration for a minority report:

Numbers 13:26-30:
 
They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

Caleb and Joshua had come back to report to Moses and Aaron what they had seen in the land they had been sent to explore. Before they spoke, the other ten explores had the stage, and they started off pretty well. "...it does flow with milk and honey!" they reported. 

Unfortunately, as they continued, their joy was replaced with fear, and their words reflected their terrible thoughts. "…the people who live there are powerful…cities are fortified and very large." They saw the fruits of God's compassion, but only recognized the obstacles of the enemy.

It was brave Caleb who dared to interrupt. He silenced the people and courageously uttered that the Israelites should take up the land, because with God's support, he was certain that the task could be accomplished. His wasn't the popular opinion. His report wasn’t supported by the majority of the explorers. Ten of the twelve reported with shallow fear, whilst Caleb and Joshua reported from the depths of faith. They knew that for God, five to one was still great odds in favor of the almighty!

Often, we believe that if enough people agree on something then odds are it is right. In reality, often times when enough people agree on something, then there are just a lot of wrong people!

Dear Lord, in the multitude of ignorance let us hear your truth!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Even If He Doesn't

Men of Commitment.

That was the theme of Men's Camp 2014. To be willing to commit is essential in walking with Christ. We have to either be all in or all out. We learned that God can and will use people of contribution, but he desires people of commitment.

Commitment is daunting.

Commitment is difficult.

Commitment is necessary.
 
Commitment can be daunting because, well, forever is a mighty long time! The concept of always can be frightening. It can be said that we fear change, but I think permanence can be just as frightening. The pressure to never waiver may be suffocating. The fear of failure can make escape seem like the best available option.

If commitment was easy, it would be called something else. Its basic meaning is to serve. To serve is work, so by its very nature, commitment is laborious. It's easy to be committed when things are going smoothly.

I read a quote that said something along the lines of, "Those who think the devil is weak have never tried resisting him." How committed are we when the going gets tough? We need to be through and through people. Whether up or down, sunshine or rain, good or bad, we need to be committed. In Daniel 3:16-18, we find a familiar example of this for better or for worse commitment.
 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

How many of us can look into the face of the enemy and declare that we will be delivered from our current strife, but even if we aren't, our faith wont waiver? Three young men taught us that commitment is not reliant on immediate deliverance or lack of storms in life, rather on the faith to endure even if deliverance seems impossible or far off.

As daunting and difficult as it can be, commitment is necessary. Without it, we are like the chaff in Psalm 1:4 that is easily blown away. Commitment isn't fleeting. It's the product of faith and effort.

Written by Lt. Darell Houston
Newark Ironbound Corps

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The Walking Dead

OMGoodness!!!

The Walking Dead keeps me on edge week to week. Every week, the final 10-12 minutes draw me in as I try to prepare myself for the outcomes. Will Rick become the old Rick? Will Glen's love for Maggie be his downfall? The answers unfold partially before my eyes, and I'm drawn back to the screen next week for those that remain unanswered.

Then there are the Walkers. They are the shadow of human life. Dazed and living life as an instinctual monster. It's a shame really. When you look at them, they have faces because they were people once. Now, they only exist to satisfy their own sick desires. They go from want to want. Left foot then right foot. They drag their lifeless bodies from place to place until eventually they are destroyed.

Luckily, we are not in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, but we have the walking dead around us. Everyday, there are men, women and children who wake up miserable and go to bed feeling even worse. They live broken, hurt and hopeless lives. Living as a poor replica of human life. Dazed and disengaged with the world. When you look into their eyes, you see a human face, often smiling the best smile inner turmoil can buy. They drag themselves from routine to routine until eventually they fade away.

That isn't life, but it's life for so many people.

So many of our brothers, sisters, friends and co workers are subject to this unfulfilling lifestyle. They are the walking dead. They aren't living - they are existing. In the TV show, the dead are destroyed on site in most cases, but the hurt and the suffering these people experience doesn't have to kill them.

It says in Jeremiah 33:6,

"Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security."

God has offered a better solution to the destruction prescribed by the world. He offers healing, prosperity and security. We don't have to broken, poor in spirit or afraid! God loves us all and not from a distance. He isn't a spectator or at ringside. because He is in the fight with us! His offer holds true for anyone that would accept it.

Today, you many know someone who is suffering in a similar fashion. I urge you to offer them this reminder of love so that they may partake in the gifts of God. Perhaps you're reading this, and something resonates within your own spirit. I pray that God is allowed into your heart this moment so that the seeds of life can be planted.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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The Slow and the Furious: But and Yet

"This is going to hurt me more than its going to hurt you!"

The phrase heard around the world. No matter what language you speak or the neighborhood you’re from (unless you suffer from affluenza), these words preceded an inevitable form of punishment.

"How can it be?"

How can my pain hurt you, not as much, but more than it hurts me? As a child, this paradox baffled me to my core. It made no sense that the source of my perceived affliction would hurt more than I. As a child, and sometimes even now, my thinking was simple: Up was the opposite of down, there were winners and losers, and there were pain givers and pain receivers. Now, you ask me to believe in a mutual suffering? A mutual suffering that stems from love and anger.

Love. It has caused wars, raised heroes, built nations and caused committed men and women to gladly look death in the eyes and stare back! So has anger. These two great passions can be seen as the seeds from which all great efforts and conflicts grow.

A man will climb and cross mountains to get to the woman he loves. If she were harmed, in anger, he would traverse those same peaks in pursuit of her assailant. A mother would move heaven and earth for her children, yet she will grow angry if they misbehave and discipline them.

In the same way, God would do anything for His people because He loves us. Not unlike the loving mother’s reaction to poorly behaved children, this does not absolve us from the discipline of His love.

I was always taught that whenever you see 'but' in a sentence, the latter often contrast the aforementioned statement, BUT when you see ‘'yet,' a crucial detail is about to be added. In Numbers 14:18, we read:

"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

Yet

he does not leave the guilty unpunished"

The Lord loves us, but this love doesn't negate His anger when we exhibit undesirable behavior, yet the discipline is still from a place of love. Love and anger are a two car garage that are attached to the same house. One is a luxury sedan and the other is a four wheel drive SUV. They pull out of the same driveway and onto the same street. The weather or circumstance determine which the driver takes, but they are both intended to get us safely from point A to point B.

God is abounding in love and slow to anger, but that anger isn't rooted is hate. It's rooted in love. He only grows angry because He cares. My fear is not His correction. My fear is when He no longer desires to correct.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps 

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Tough Mudder

“Don’t quit!”
“Keep going!”

And my personal favorite, “You’re going to feel amazing when you finish!”

These were just a few of the statements made by several of the event and medical staff that were stationed around the course at the Tri-State Tough Mudder 2013. I learned several things that morning and a few stood out to me:

•    Encouragement goes a long way
•    Teamwork makes the dream work
•    There is satisfaction in completion

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we read, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up...”

There were moments in the challenge where it seemed that the logical thing to do was to quit, turn back and live to fight another day. By the time you reach mile 3 (a quarter of the the way), your body is aching, you’re cold and beginning to notice a few aches accumulated along the way. Thank God for encouragement! It seemed that every time doubt crept into my mind an encouraging word reminded me that I’m able to take another step, climb another wall and endure a little longer. The encouragement prevented defeat from ever gaining a foot hole in my mind.

Proverbs 27:17, “ Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another...”

Tough Mudder was designed to ensure camaraderie. The challenges and course can be completed by an individual, but it is not good for a man to try it alone (see what I did there *wink wink*). I saw a man struggle and literally hit a wall...of mud...and begin to give in to frustration. He found life when someone reached back and grabbed his arm. With a new strength, together he climbed that wall as a stranger pulls him up. He then continued on the course to the finish.

John 19:30, “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.””

In The Salvation Army, its not uncommon to begin a project or effort and not see it in its completed state. One officer may begin a campaign for a new building and the next may begin the construction. No matter what the task, there is a great sense of achievement when it is completed. When I crossed the finish line at Tough Mudder, I fully expected to collapse and just lie on the ground until I had enough strength to stand. What I found was that upon completion, I was still standing!

Not everyone will do and complete a Tough Mudder, but we all will face challenges or know someone in the midst of one. Your words of encouragement might be all that stands between victory and defeat in that moment. We are creatures of community, therefore, we ought to be there for each other. Lastly, Let us meet our next obstacle and see it through to completion. Join in the finished work of Christ!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Your Psalm

Ignorance.

By definition it means a lack of knowledge or information.

A source that I have found to be a fountain of knowledge and insight once uttered, "Before I do anything, I ask myself if an idiot would do that. If the answer is yes, I do no do that thing!" - Dwight Schrute of "The Office"

While I don't necessarily condone the use of calling others idiots, I do wholeheartedly believe that the essential idea of this quote is life-altering for the believer. We are a people with a long and eventful history. It's filled with heroic and group highs, yet riddled with individual and community lows. We need not look far to find examples of this, however, I would like to direct your attention to the book of Psalms where we find examples of both in abundance.

The author of many of the Psalms is a man from the people who had a range of emotions not unlike our own. He had urges, fears, troubles and nightmares just as we do today. Apart from all his great accomplishments and exploits, perhaps his greatest gift to us today was his writing.

Sometimes, I like to imagine this people's champion perhaps stepping out on his balcony and bursting into song!  "My gift is my Psalm, and this one's for you!"

No matter who you are, where you are in life or your walk with the Lord, there is a Psalm for you, "...and you can run and tell everybody, that this is your Psalm."

Seriously, there is great theology in the Psalms which encompasses the human dilemma of life, while also reminding us of our victory through God over the world. The most powerful message I gain from the Psalms isn't found in the themes of sin, suffering or faith. No, my hope isn't found in an acrostic or a motif. It's not in chiastic structure or the parallelism of any particular Psalm.

My hope is found in the simple fact that there are more than one Psalm of King David. I don't celebrate his numerous shortcomings, even though I can relate to multiple failures. I celebrate his numerous attempts to get it right. David embodied the "get back up again" attitude that we desperately need today. "Forgive me Lord, and try me one more time..." I love that song because it speaks about me. It speaks about David. It speaks about you.

None of us are perfect. We fall, we lose, we make mistakes. Thanks be to God that we can also learn from them! We can learn from the lessons taught in the Psalms through the lives of others so we no longer have to be ignorant or doomed to repeat them. We don't have to make the same mistakes anymore!

"Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction..." - 1 Corinthians 10:11

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton

Newark Ironbound

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Before I Go To Kensico

It was definitely weird, but I enjoyed it!

At least it was enjoyable in the sense that it was new and therefore exciting. When I was in college, I took a creative writing course. The instructor, who was a published author, would often come up with such strange writing challenges that several of us students would wonder if he was joking or being serious. On a Monday morning, he strolled into the room with the usual hip smirk on his face. He had that, "I've got them now!" look as he gave us our next assignment.

"I want you to write an obituary...more specifically, I want you to write YOUR obituary!"

Needless to say, we were all stunned by the shocking words that made their way from his mouth to our ears. The first troubling thought was, "How do I write my own obituary?" Next, "How will the world remember me?" I know many people die every day and no one seems to care on a wide scale unless they are of some 'importance.'

Would my death be in vain?

If I died, who would notice, who would care, why should they?

How did I die?

Was it in some glorious life-saving escapade, or did they find me on the toilet with my pants down?

So many thoughts rushed through my head, but one was all too real and became the focus of my paper. Writing my obituary may not have made me a better writer, but it made me a better person. It forced me to come face to face with a fact that a 17 year old may not think of or even think is possible.

It made me realize my own mortality!

At such a young age, I felt invincible! I barely ever was ill, I was in great physical shape, and my mind was as sharp as it had ever been at that time. I was a young adult that hadn't even reached his prime, yet confronted with death, my death!

I read a sign that stated, "Life isn't too short; it’s the longest thing you'll ever do!"

This assignment really put into perspective, for me at least, how short a lifetime is, but how immortal a moment can be.

It came down to asking myself - How do I want to be remembered? Do I want to be an important person, or, do I dare to be an impactful person?

Before I go to Kensico (a cemetery where many Salvation Army personnel are buried), will I have had an impact on anyone or anything? Will the summation of little battles equal any significant victory for the Kingdom of Heaven? If not, then my 'importance' will have outweighed my impact, and I will have failed and nothing can be done to change it. We find a great example of this in Luke 16:19-31, the Rich Man and Lazarus.

The rich man had lived a life of comfort and eventually died. He went to Hell and wanted to be able to return if only for a short time to warn his brothers of what awaits them if they do not change. He found out that his time to impact those on earth was limited. He could not have another chance to make a difference in the lives of those he loved.

He lost his opportunity; I pray I take full advantage of mine! I have decided that my life will not be 78.64 years of self, because the uncomfortable, yet definite truth is that the life of 'self' will end. However, if the average life span remains 78.64, then I can multiply opportunities by each day and share those 28,703.6 moments having an impact on others! There will always be others.

In my life, there have been accomplishments and failures, but more importantly, there have been experiences and moments. Lord, make my moments Holy!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton

Newark Ironbound

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A Lion in the Daniel’s Den

Trapped! You're locked in a pit. The only escape is plugged with a seemingly immovable obstacle. In the deep darkness, you pace back and forth throughout the day or night. You're not really sure of which because you've already lost track of time in your subterranean exile. Food is occasionally dropped in, but you shy away because the opening of your prison delivers an unusual brightness of the rarely seen sky, and it burns your eyes. Immediately after the door closes, you make a move toward the food before the others pounce on the scarce meal. The lack of food has made you irritable and overly aggressive. It's as if your captors wanted you to be hungry to maintain a ravenous edge.

You are a hungry, ferocious and proud lion that is trapped in a den, and things are about to get worse.

The sky reveals itself again, and the piercing light invades your space. Something is dropped into your den. It smells like meat, but something is different. As the entrance is sealed again, what you thought was food stands up and begins to walk toward you and the other lions. As you all huddle together and cower in fear, the undesirable truths grabs you by the lump in your throat as you realize you have come face to face with a Daniel.

Daniels and Davids and Jobs, oh my! I can say with bit of certainty that you have never heard that before, and there is a fair chance you may never hear it again. If my blatant "tagline" substitution isn’t a crime, then the lack of its usage should be.

"Fear not nor be afraid of them!"

Great words given to us by God through Moses. I have found that "them" isn't always people. Quite often, "them" is us, "them" is things, "them" is fear, and "them" is problems. It made me wonder, why are "them" not afraid of me?

The command God has given in Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go."

Have I followed the order or believe the promise it ends with? My shameful answer is, if not no, perhaps not always. I think if the answer was a resounding yes for all of us, then we would approach life a lot differently.

From these thoughts, I've taken away three things:

1. We should live as if we have heavenly backup
2. Believe in the security that comes with the promises of God
3. Our problems should be afraid of us

I hope that these thoughts can in some way allow you to look into your own life as I have done mine and ask the tough questions. When the answer is no, decide what it will take to become a yes! We were fearfully and wonderfully made, not made to live in fear!

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound

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The Friend Zone

In the lush green plains of relationships, two great peaks reach skyward casting a permanent shadow on the valley between them. On the lesser peak stands planted a flag reading "Friendship." Across from it, on a clear day, bursting through cloud nine can be seen another flag which reads "Romance."

Between the two mountains, in that dark and shady valley are the remains of unattained desires scattered about like an elephant graveyard. In its center lies a mound of wants that could not safely make it from one peak to the other. Atop this mound of insecurity, disappointment and 'what-ifs' is planted another flag. Unlike the other flags that boldly flap in the wind, this flag is tattered from the multi-directional winds of the valley. It reads, "The Friend Zone!" 

John 21:15 says: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." 

Commissioner Israel Gaither brought to my attention that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him using agape love, an unconditional love, but Peter responds using a philia love, a brotherly love. In other words Jesus ask Peter, "Do you love me?" and Peter responds, "I like you a lot..." planting Christ firmly in the friend zone.

Many of us entertain, even enjoy, a friendship with Christ. We don't mind the occasional chat or benefit from the relationship as if Jesus was that one friend in high school that was invited out only because they had a car. As long as the friendship doesn't inconvenience us, we will even hang out with Him for a bit on Sundays if it will keep Him happy.

Commissioner Gaither said it best, "Jesus doesn’t want us to 'like' Him! He wants us to love Him!" Instead of accepting a meaningful relationship with Christ and giving Him the prominent office in our life, we have made Him the Prime Minister of Justafriendistan! Liking Christ is nice, but loving Him is better! Having a good friendship with Jesus is wonderful start, but He wants more from this relationship.

General William Booth was once asked to reveal the secret of his success. After some hesitation, tears came to his eyes and he said, "I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me..." 

Will you allow the walls of fear and comfort to be torn down so that Christ can have all there is of you? 

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound

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An Act of God

An 'Act of God' is described as an extraordinary interruption that is beyond human control and can't be prevented! Years ago, this term would lead a person to think directly of insurance claims as the image of a neighbor's tree which was once upright now rest on the roof of what used to be a minivan. In more recent years, the mind might rush to scenes of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina or the faces of Indonesian children after the devastation of a tsunami.

In any case, we have been led to believe that an 'Act of God' is some sort of natural anomaly that leaves behind a trail of debris and tears. There can't be many things further from the truth!

Thousands of years ago, as the sequel to the fall of man, an 'Act of God' occurred. A Champion was born to an unaware world to a carpenter and his young wife. As the third installment to this spectacle, another 'Act of God' happened. About 33 years later, that same Champion reached out to the west, He grabbed hold of the east and announced His victory over that great adversary, "It is finished."

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

That may have been the greatest 'Act of God' of them all, but the truth is that it wasn't the last one. The truth is that they happen every day! Not every 'Act of God' has a star hovering over it. Not every 'Act of God' has a crowd gathered and ready to bear witness to it.

An 'Act of God' is when a police officer buys a pair of shoes for a homeless man and helps him put them on without knowing cameras are watching. An 'Act of God' is a teacher who shields her students from an attacker. An 'Act of God' isn't an unstoppable wildfire or an unimaginable storm. It's unstoppable love and unimaginable grace. An 'Act of God' is every image of love, compassion and justice we project in this world.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound 

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