This is more of an occult story but we talked about labels Wednesday so it fits if I force it.
You guys all know that we can let ourselves be labeled by something other than our spiritual identity (that is, as sons). God is VERY serious about protecting this territory:
One day, I was sitting on the john when I looked down at the boxer shorts I was wearing. (Now, you should know this about me: I think that what's printed on underwear is totally irrelevant, so I use that canvas as a place to have some fun. The stranger the print, the more I'm into it. I say, zany me up on the undershorts. Solid color? Stripes? WHAT? What a waste. Why not mix it up?) Anyhow, the boxers I was wearing had a sort of cartoon representation of a sexy nurse and the word LOVESICK repeated throughout. It's just kind of silly and pointless, right?
Um, right.
'Thing is, God spoke to me that day, on the throne, about those boxers.
"You lovesick?"
"Um, what? Sir?"
"Are you lovesick?"
"Excuse me?"
"I said, Are you lovesick? Are you starved for love? Are you looking for some trampy vixen to come take care of you?"
"No, I'm not. I'm pretty satisfied with the love you give me."
"Then what are the shorts about?"
"Oh these? They're just a little kidding around. Purely novelty. I wouldn't worry about them."
"I'm concerned with lies around your life. Seems to me that this is not only a lie, it's a lie about the greatest stronghold you've had in your life- unloving. That's a big deal to me. You think this is a small billboard for this message, but it's not the billboard that concerns me- it's the message. I consider this underwear impure."
Now, aside from the fact that the 'impure' comment could've been directed at my hygiene--and I can appreciate the humor there--I'd heard enough. I changed my shorts and stopped off at my closet on the way to the trash can. I also found a pair of boxers that said "Heartbreaker" with exploding Valentine's Day hearts on them.
"You a heartbreaker, then? Do you break people's hearts? Is that you?"
"No, sir, it's not. I'm not a heartbreaker. I'm a peacemaker. I mend broken hearts, like Daddy does."
"Right."
So I had two fewer pairs of boxer shorts at the end of that day. I did put on other boxers--so I wasn't freeballing--but I did feel mighty free.
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Great story Steven. That's the reason I go commando.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just said that. The Good Lord blessed me with a sense of humor. I like to use it.
On a similar note, I was the last single guy, and was in the midst of dating various women. I had never been confident with women, and had never really dated a lot. Having earthly "success" made me feel like more of a man, and my friends living vicariously through me tended to egg me on.
Anyways, we went on a golf trip and one guy who worked with Cintas had some pull overs made...each had a nickname on it. Mine said "Lady Killer".
I was so proud of this moniker during that trip (no ladies were killed during that trip, or really, any time after), but a few years ago, after seeing it in my closet nearly every time I got dressed, I got rid of it.
I'm simply not a lady killer...never was, never will be.
Ok... I had to look up "occult" to make sure there weren't any witches or, even worse, worlocks in Steven's shorts. In this instance it simply means: hidden or in secret.
ReplyDeleteNext, I love, Steven, how you refer to God as sir and Daddy in the same lines. You show respect and intimacy. I want that kind of relationship with God. It's happening to me.
Next, you show how easy it is for us to go astray. Even without realizing it. Recently I have started praying for my wife every time my head is turned by another woman (traffic, walking at lunch, shopping, etc.). I ask for blessings on herher... all kinds of blessings - some that I have desired for years from God and through her. Yesterday I received one of those. While we were driving home from dinner, I felt her warm hand smoothing the hair on my right arm. It's been so long since that has happened. I love being touched, it brings me into connection with my love... my wife.
God, you are faithful. I love you for loving me.
We dealt with labels and image in our small group last night – I didn’t really see it coming with accusation but it fits. I spent time repenting for lies I’ve accepted around masculinity and what a real man should look like. Growing up without a father, I fought against the claims that I would be “less than” a real man, and I didn’t want to be pitied for that – so I worked hard to conform myself to fit the image of what I thought to be a fathered son – strong, quiet, polished, and successful.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I battled (imaginary) rejection around dominant men in my life who are “real” strong fathered men…real in the fact that they receive from the Lord and walk in their authority…they are strong in character and lead through compassion and service. Around these men, I fumble my words or struggle with eye contact – The accuser really gets in there and tells me that I should be ashamed…that I’m not worthy to be around these men, that I’m a fake, and I have nothing good to say…it really pisses me off.
Last night, we shed the burdens of worldly masculinity and confessed to the Lord that He is indeed our Perfect Father, and we can rest in knowing that He made us in His image. Further, I received that I too am a Son of God, a co-heir with Christ to the inheritance of the Kingdom.
I’m done with conforming to the likeness of others and seeking their approval. My father’s opinion of me is all that matters and He says He sees me as Holy – without blemish and free from accusation – sure, I’ll live with that freedom.
I am a real man and I am a fathered son.
Don H
Very cool stuff Don. Way to be a real man indeed and share your experience.
ReplyDeleteThat co-heir thing FLOORS me every time I even try to comprehend it.
Thanks for those words, Don.
ReplyDeleteI believe we will all benefit from your learning and from your sharing of these truths.
-shoey
Don-
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of COURAGE.
Here is some words that may give us a glimpse of what courage is:
(This is me quoting John Eldredge quoting G.K. Chesterton):
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.
It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book.
The paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape.
He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."
As we fight like soldiers with enemies all around us, let us fight like Aragorn and Gimli on the bridge in Helm's Deep: back-to-back with all eyes aware of possible attacks from any direction.
-shoe
I want to share my story around accusation - and the power of a single, little memory verse. It was maybe 3 years ago while meeting with a group of guys we came across Romans 8:1 "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". My friend Shoe started going bananas about this verse!! "do you guys realize what this means!" - he kept saying. and then it hit me for the first time - I am never, ever condemned by the Lord. I really feel like that verse and the conversation saved my life b/c I always felt like the Lord was harsh with me - and so it was a big barrier to desiring time or initimacy with him.
ReplyDeleteSo now when that voice comes around - it gets a full dose of truth from Romans 8:1. And I also find that voice doesn't come around much anymore. And best of all - I feel loved and embraced by my Father. I know he doesn't condemn or accuse - he is gentle and compassionate (Psalm 103)!
Thanks for memory verses Steven - keep bringing them b/c I need them for my arsenal. Tait
That was my other finalist for the memory verse. It's pretty simple.
ReplyDeleteShoe: you knew you would get me with the LoR reference! Nice one!
Don: yeah! Thanks for being real and vulnerable! We can all go to school on you! No more prefabricated personalities!
Shooo, woooo, that courage bit is encouraging, empowering, and exciting! THANK YOU!
ReplyDelete