SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

Good Samaritan, Going Beyond the Parable

One of the most famous parables of Jesus’ teaching is that of the Good Samaritan. After the tragedies that have surrounded the world recently. I think it is timely that it be the reading at church this past Sunday. It is a stark reminder of how we should be treating one another. We have been quick to pass judgment as our newsfeed fills with one senseless event after another. Are we any better now than the priest of Levite in that story? Are we kind to our neighbors, our brothers, and sisters? On the streets between Jerusalem and Jericho, a man robbed, beaten left to die. To die alone as passerby’s ignored his pleas for help. How are we much different as we pass judgment and move to the other side of the street, to avoid each other rather than love one another? Are we led by our faith to where we help those in need? Click To Tweet Homeless, prostitutes, and more, we step to the other side of the road rather than encounter them. The color of someone’s skin makes us angry, or the badge they wear. Refugees from all over the world have become a political hot potato no one wants to touch. Are we not all God’s children? In the parable, it states that we should love our neighbor. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ~ Luke […]

Merry Christmas – Welcome to the Greatest Conspiracy Ever

As you celebrate Christmas, you have become part of a conspiracy. A fantastic conspiracy that had spread around the world like Santa’s sleigh. Along with millions of other people around the world you will likely spend today sharing gifts. Gifts, thought out and well planned. Gifts both big and small that will express the greatest gift of all, love. Over two thousand years ago in a manger far far away was the first Christmas gift ever given. A gift so big that He gave his only begotten son for each and every one of us. He was born into this world to take away our sin, this spotless victim of God’s greatest gift, love. He was Love,  He is Love everlasting. This baby whose birth we celebrate with gifts today, He is love. Gifts of love, as we welcome Him into our homes on this Christmas day. A love so great that He lives within each of us every day throughout the year. Along with all the Christians of the world you have become a part of this conspiracy to share and show God’s love. Each of us have been called to go out and make disciples in His name. Share the faith, hope and love our loving heavenly Father has provided in the form of a new-born child. The son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. ~ C.S. Lewis Click To Tweet Will you join me in the great conspiracy of Christmas, the great conspiracy to share His eternal […]

We are Called to Love Our Neighbor

We were given the great commission to make disciples and to love our neighbor. Yet many of us don’t love our own neighbor much less those on the other side of the world. Do you have a neighbor that is loud and parties alot, or one that perhaps does not mow their yard regularly. Maybe it’s your coworkers that annoy you to no end. When is the last time you prayed for your neighbor? Not counting the prayers when you asked for patience or tolerance. But prayers offered for them that you may show them the love Jesus asked you to share. In the time that it takes you to read this people are making their way to the feet of Jesus but may not be allowed in his company (Luke 13:27). Do you want to be the one sitting by letting them take their chances? Or would you rather be to one to show them the LOVE Jesus has shared with you by sharing it with them. In sharing the word with your neighbors you answer the call. In answering the call you complete the great commission we are called to serve. Mission work and discipleship starts at home in our own neighborhoods. Finding ways to bless those that are less fortunate we stave off the need in our own neighborhood. We live lives of excess meanwhile there are those that are starving either physically, spirituality or both living next door. You might think that you don’t have anything that your neighbors need or want. […]