SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

In the Calm of the Storm, after Matthew

For the first time in many years as a Floridian, a last week’s hurricane made our city nervous. It is rare that hurricanes impact our little part of Florida. Jacksonville, our city lies, tucked away in the northeastern part of the state, we are usually protected. Last week on October 7th, the First Coast prepared for what looked to be a catastrophic event, it’s name was Mathew. After seeing the devastation left in its wake in Haiti. Our city began to prepare for the worst case scenario of a direct impact. Evacuations were ordered, store shelves emptied. The closer Matthew got to our coast the more time I spent circling my house and neighborhood in prayer. In times of despair and worry, we tend to turn to prayer as our salvation. Perhaps if we turn to Him in times of peace and tranquility, he will listen more carefully to our prayers. Wind and rain picked up, waves crashed ashore. Images of Matthew’s wrath covered the headlines of every channel. Fear was evident as the forecasters spoke of our imminent doom. Covering our home in prayer for protection, we chose to stay and see what the storm might bring. Flooding, downed trees, power outtakes, history washed away while other remnants washed ashore. Homes and roadways turned to rubble. As Matthew weakened and turned to the north, we began to breathe a sigh of relief. Our comfort took over as we thought the worst had passed. My wife and I sat down and started to watch a […]

Dishonor, A story of Hope and Redemption 

Some of the best stories that have the most impact come from the heart. A place of vulnerability that allows the reader to connect with the story. Such is the case with the book Dishonor: One Soldier’s Journey from Desertion to Redemption by David Mike. David takes his readers on a journey of epic proportions. Imagine you are young, everything going for you. Joining the military had been a lifelong dream of yours. Like many people you make a couple of bad choices. Decided temptations were worthy of their rewards. Instead of being a clean cut soldier you had dreamed of, it all collapses around you. Sometimes you have to be locked up to find true freedom. ~ @dilemmamike Click To Tweet When you should have had your boots on the ground with your brother in arms, you end up behind bars. Shame over pride overtakes David as he fights to get out. Not only out of jail but out of the military. He wanted out on his terms rather than run the risk of smearing his dad’s name, much less his by…gulp… being dishonorably discharged. Through all of this, David was still able to find Christ with him behind the prison bars, amidst his shame. David Mike swore allegiance to his country in 1987, only to be dishonorably discharged for desertion. One bad choice after another landed him at Fort Leavenworth, a notorious military prison in Kansas, where he starts a new life as an inmate. Follow his journey as he claws his way toward […]

Fill Your Life with Moments of Grace

As I alluded to over a couple of posts recently my family has shrunk a bit. It has been through these losses that true grace has been revealed. Anyone that watches as their parents or in my case grandparents as they lose their ability to care for themselves knows it is hard. No longer do you see them the same. No longer are they the same. Their true self shines through almost child like. My grandmother passed away a couple of weeks ago. She had changed from the steadfast strong lady I once knew. Her life began to dwindle with her memory. One moment she knew me, the next I was a stranger. I pray that the loving woman, full of joy and grace the last I saw her. I pray that was the real grandma I happened to never really know. We had our differences. We could go quite some time without even speaking. Now that she is gone, I pray the way she was the last few months. I pray that was God’s way of shining through her to speak to me. A couple of weeks after her passing at the age of 98, I lost my sweet beautiful cousin at age 33. My heart was devastated. Why would God take her so soon? In reflecting over the times we spent, my cousin was living a life full of grace. Her life was so full you could not help but be changed by her presence. Although her life was taken suddenly and what […]