I found this article written by Scott Farrell recently.

Essential elements of today’s code of chivalry

There was no such thing as a “uniform” code of chivalry in the Middle Ages. Many people — from successful knights to contemplative philosophers — compiled lists of virtuous qualities, called the “knightly virtues,” which they felt defined chivalry. No two were exactly the same.

There were, however, several common themes found in these lists of knightly virtues. By combining these, we have created what we consider to be the seven knightly virtues of the modern code of chivalry:

Courage

More than bravado or bluster, today’s knight in shining armor must have the courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved.

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In tough economic times, it can be difficult to think about how we got into this mess. All we really want to think about is how to get out of the mess.

But we really must consider how we got there in the first place because if we don’t, then we will make those same mistakes.

One of the common causes of financial hardship is poor financial stewardship. People spend more money than they have to buy stuff they don’t need, and then, they can’t pay it back. If you look back over your financial history and see a pattern of excessive spending and buying on credit with no income to pay it back - you might just have a problem.

You may think one of the great aspects of wealth is how much money you have. It’s not. The great aspect of wealth is how you use money. You may have heard if you take money from a rich person, he’ll be poor, but if you take money from a wealthy person, he’ll just make more. But consider this. If you give money to a rich person, he’ll spend it. He’ll have more stuff and the same amount of money. If you give money to a wealthy person, he will figure out how to invest it to make more money.

Stewardship is the key. You cannot put money into the hands of someone whose habit is to spend it without first developing the habit for good stewardship.

The Great Society was a government program that was supposed to take our poorest neighborhoods, tear down the old, run down houses, and replace them with new homes. The thought was that if these poor people had nicer homes and something to be proud of, they would take better care of them and property values would rise. What happened was the opposite. Within a few years, the new homes were in the same shape as the ones they replaced. Why? Because money was poured into giving people who had no idea of stewardship something to which the had to be good stewards of.

If you cannot be a good steward, you will never be able to maintain wealth, a home, a relationship, or anything else.

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John 1:14

So the Word became flesh and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his Glory, the Glory of the only Son of the Father.

I remember back to when I was 9 yrs old back in Puerto Rico seeing my Dad every morning at the kitchen table with his cup of coffee and what to me seemed like the world’s largest black leather Bible.

I also remember the great sense of peace it gave me to see my Father reading that book. Just a couple of years prior, my Father was a different man and, to his own acknowledgment, had destroyed his marriage to my mother. Yet that book brought about a drastic change in him. He became a new Man.

Now at 35, whenever I speak of my father I refer to him as with book and without. In my own life I purposely put myself in places where my daughter can see me sitting with that Book and hope she sees what I saw in my Father. She will only ever know me as Papa with book.

I am well aware of the man I am apart from this book. Call me Old fashioned, but I carry it with me wherever I go. I make room for Christ to speak to me whenever and wherever he chooses. I want all that he has for me!

God’s instruction to Joshua is the same for us meditate on it day and night and then it will make your way successful!

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Ecclesiastes 10:10

since a dull ax requires great strength sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

Ever felt like a hamster on a wheel in someone’s cage? Life can be like that. You run harder and faster and yet it seems like you’re going nowhere. Perhaps at some time you’ve been afforded an opportunity and in your heart of hearts you see yourself failing because the task at hand far exceeds your capacity.

Thank God for teachers, instructors, coaches, and, most of all, pastors. It’s amazing to me how often we devalue such great gifts. Ephesians refers to them as such. Here is someone whose role and purposes is to watch over, instruct, and care for us. So that we grow to become fruitful and productive in every area of life for the benefit of the kingdom.

Yet so many times I have seen people handcuff this relationship and not give access to them as to hurt themselves and their families.

Our western independent upbringing handicaps us from the full counsel of God’s divine order.

CLC has a great Pastor and I consider myself blessed!

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Uncle Irving died last week.

Now to most people, that means nothing, and even to myself it is a distant event 1400 miles away, but let me tell you about this forgotten man.

Irving was he brother of my Grandmother, and married Aunty Agnes. My wife and I learned a little about these two when we were invited to dinner at their house once about 7 years ago, and I regret it was the only real conversation we had with them. We rang the doorbell and she answered the door, a lovely hostess, the perfect Jewish/ Italian grandma, pinching cheeks and filling stomachs. Walking into the house it was hard not to laugh; they were in their seventies I think, yet all I can recall is the white sofas and the red heart shaped cushions all over the place- they were still very much in love, and they talked about Jesus constantly.

Agnes told us of how they married right before Irv was sent to the Pacific during world war II, she described with absolute sincerity and emotion the terror of their wedding night, as she was a virgin and had never slept with a man. Tiffany and I laughed at her stories and she did too, a bit, but you could tell she was genuine.

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1 Corinthians 4:20

For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

Growing up in Chicago during the Michael Jordan Era, I learned a valuable lesson. I was one who played basketball daily, and in the neighborhood I lived, competition was staunch. When you got next, you wanted to win because getting back on the court was not guaranteed. So you tried to pick guys that you know could ball so you could hold the court.

Occasionally it would happen that you’d end up picking some guy who looked the part. You know right shoe’s’ shorts wristband, jersey, could talk the game, only to find out later that kid had no game….Bummer.

The Kingdom of God operates the same way. I don’t want to be caught with the guy who has the T.V and radio Program, the bible seminary degree, but not enough power to blow the fuzz off a peach….

Give me the guy who’s gone through some stuff and is still serving Christ.

I remember sitting in a restaurant once with an older gentlemen, and he was sharing with me how his teenage son who was suffering depression years ago committed suicide and how it forever changed him. He had disciplined his son and sent him to his room only to find him later strangled. It drove him to Christ. Now when he spoke of Christ his mercy and Grace, there was a sense of the Holy Ghost that could convert the hardest of hearts. He came through not bitter but better. That’s the Kingdom I know

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Mark 16:20

and the disciples went everywhere and preached and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

What a thought! That the Lord of all,would be supporting and backing your efforts. Why? Simply because you put yourself in a position to preach this gospel. They did not wait for a sign in order to begin preaching( Heralding/ proclaiming), but instead they opened their mouths to share and the signs followed.

Have you ever asked yourself why signs don’t manifest in your life? What is coming out of your mouth? Not only in Church or around other Christians for you see it says they went everywhere and preached. In other words their confession was consistent. Not blab and grab! The thought being that what is in you will come out of you!

2009 will be the greatest year of my life to date.

Since October 1, that has been my confession. I am determined to preach everywhere and anywhere. So that it will be said of me the Lord is working with him!

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Isaiah 11: 1

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot- yes’ a new branch bearing fruit from the old root.

I heard the most incredible testimony the other day. A survivor of the senseless atrocity that took place in Rwanda! This women had seen her husband and children killed by a man who had been a neighbor for many years. Now found her self having to move forward and rebuild her life.

She stated that she saw no other way to move forward then through the wonder working power of restoration in forgiveness that she received from her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She organized a Community dinner. Well aware that there would be people from both sides of the spectrum there.

She set the example by forgiving and eating with the man who had taken her family.

How often I have seen Christ take a root that someone would call hopeless dead and worthless and spring forth something all together wonderful.

No matter how bad it seems or how hopeless, Make room for Christ and see the salvation of our Lord!

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Joel 1:16

Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

Church should be one big party. I know what we do at C.L.C and how enjoyable it is to be around my bothers and sisters.

I see our ushers almost come to the point of using stun guns just to get them out of our ed-wing and into the sanctuary on Wednesdays and likewise to get them out of the building after a service. Our people enjoy being at Church.

The exhilaration that comes in worship, people lifting their hands, clapping, moving, and praising. Sometimes I stop and look around at the faces of those fully engaged. The sheer wonder of the Holy Ghost working in the life of another!

Yet likewise to see someone who for whatever reason is disconnected and distracted, I ask what have they allowed to steal the Joy and gladness that is available in God House?

Guard vehemently that which God has so wonderfully provided!!! You can’t do church at home or via the internet or T.V ludicrous if your able to get there, get there nothing like it. The backseat in school was usually for the disconnected how true of Church as well.

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Psalms 130:4

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

What an awesome thought to understand the depravity of our soul and the holiness of God, yet the world looks at God’s forgiveness and they use it as an excuse to keep on keeping on.

I wonder what type of picture we portray to the world; I’ve heard people use the story of the prodigal son to justify. As if the Father in that story where sitting around sulking, waiting day after day for the son to return. The Father was where he always was, and it was the change in the son’s attitude that allowed him access back into the Father’s House.

The Father never changed his stance, and it was the Fathers unwavering stance that made his forgiveness all the more beautiful and something to be feared.

How can my daughter ever know the wonder of forgiveness unless she first experiences discipline and correction? For unless she knows that the one with power to forgive also reserves the right to discipline she can’t!

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