SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

“Risen” Gives the Resurrection a Roman Perspective

Risen is a Biblical tale seen through the eyes of an unbeliever. Clavius is a tribune of Julius Caesar, who follows the story of Jesus’ rising from the dead. The story unfolds as the Romans seek to silence the disciples and all those that are spreading the good news. Clavius searches high and low for the remaining disciples. To his chagrin when he encounters them, they are not afraid of Pilate’s wrath. Not only does Pilate order Clavius to find the disciples, but he also ordered him to locate the body of Jesus. He wanted proof that would silence Jesus’ followers once and for all. Clavius struggles to find the evidence that Pilate is looking for. In turn, he finds the proof he never thought existed. Instead of finding a crucified body to return to Pilate as evidence, he encounters Jesus himself. This encounter changes everything for him, as it would anyone. He finds himself in the dilemma of knowing that he watched him die. Now days later he sees the same man alive again. What else could he believe? The radical followers that he had been chasing, perhaps they were not so radical? #RisenMovie Click To Tweet Maybe they did not steal the body as originally thought? What did this all mean? Clavius does what any good soldier would do. He ran. That does not sound right, yet it was. He ran with the Apostles; he helped them escape the Roman soldiers that hunted them. His doubts began to fade as he witnessed more […]

Where Will You Be in 40 Days?

Can you believe it, Lent is already upon us again. Today we prepare our hearts and minds for our 40-day journey. 40 days in the scheme of things is not that long, yet it sounds intimidating every year. We contemplate the past year as we decide what we will give up this year. My question for you is, did you give it up last year? I mean truth be told did you go without for 40 days? Or did you just do a little less of what you likely should not be doing anyway? I find it interesting how many people give up chocolate, soda, sugar, salt or social media for Lent. The first one will be a real test as valentine’s day comes after you already gave it up. What if instead of giving up, you gave UP? Click To Tweet I mean what if for the next 40 days you read scripture every day? Or perhaps did a 40 day devotional (likely a reason most devotionals are 40 days long huh?) Spending the next 40 days pressing into God’s word, where would you be in 40 days from now? I know some of you already read the Bible every day, how about adding 40 days of prayer then? You already do that? Then try doubling your efforts. When Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, he was not out there longing for chocolate. He spent his time in prayer and devotion. He prayed for you as he suffered. Perhaps we can follow his […]

God Belongs in My City Takes to the Streets

The highly anticipated yearly prayer walk God Belongs in My City returns to Jacksonville, FL this coming Saturday August 15th at 9 a.m. God Belongs in My City began in 2009 in New York, and has since spread all over not only this country but other parts of the world. It has become a grassroots movement in which Christians from all denominations and backgrounds declare that God truly does belong in their cities. Where else will you find churches from all over a city tear down the walls that separate them and come together in one unified prayer of healing and protection over their city. There is a call to fearlessly rise up as one and not collapse under the waves of this world. We are commissioned to carry forth the Gospel of Salvation! What started out as a cry out against an atheist movement in one city has become so much more. Our youth are in danger of their own generation. Our communities are collapsing from the inside. Every city is under attack and we have declared spiritual warfare with the enemy and will take our streets back. Uniting churches of all faiths as one church, God Belongs in My City will declare victory over the crime and injustices of this world. God Belongs in My City Jacksonville has taken the mission one step further as they believe there is more to be done than praying over the city. They, under the guidance of Alan Diaz have created a street ministry team focused on […]