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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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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Jeremiah 6:16

so now the LORD says, “Stop right where you are! Look for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, `No, that’s not the road we want!’

So many times, we invade heaven with prayers and supplications, only to reject the very thing we need. The problem is not that God does not answer prayer; the truth of the matter is that we don’t like his answers. Let’s go over this again for those that are slooooowwwww! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The benefits of doing things his way are very clear rest for your souls.

God’s not going to bend to your pressure, whining, or complaining! I’m thinking that if Jesus, who prayed if there’s any other way, got no response, and he was perfect, that we may be wasting our breath on some of our requests.

Whatever he told you to do last, like Nike, just do it!

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Proverbs 5: 8

Run from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!

With my wife and daughter going out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was left with a lot of, what we call around here, Cave time. I spent most of my free time reading praying and watching movies that are full of stuff blowing up and limbs either breaking or being completely severed!

This leads me to the following thought. As guys, the thought of running from a fight or challenge does not really compute, yet no other dragon has slain so many Valiant men as this one. Not having a son (yet), my concern is high! For we live in a day and age that is as sexually volatile as ever. One day soon I will sit with my son and these words will fall from my lips! “Run son, Run for your life!!!!!”

Gentlemen, let’s be proactive not only for ourselves but for a generation to come. My heart breaks for the young men and boys who, without strong leaderships, will suffer, because no one was there to simply say, “run.”

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Acts 4:11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, and the stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

There is an expression that says the more things change the more they stay the same. When you look at the Church and the lives of those who claim to be Christians you see that in many respects this saying applies.

Peter here was speaking to a group of men in verse 8 who where the leaders and elders of the Nation. This was a nation whose very existence was a direct result of its relationship with a Holy God. Now beyond that these men in particular had devoted themselves to the study and practice of the Law. Yet the very one that the law pointed to they completely rejected!

Texas is a place where a large minority claims to be Christian, yet they reject, by the way that they live, all that he said and did!

If you Love me you will obey my commands is how Christ put it.
Yet what is lived is he loves me and he will understand, after all I am only human!

Most people have No problem accepting Christ as Savior. Where it gets funky is accepting him as Lord!

Looking at Romans 10:9 it says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We can Never ever separate his Lordship from his Salvation. It is a package deal!

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