Phelps and the shark

Romans 6.6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
Recently, another Shark Week concluded on the Discovery Channel. The big draw this year was a race between Michael Phelps and a Great White Shark. The race did not happen the way I had imagined but was all computer time trails of Phelps and said shark. But this, oddly, got me to thinking about life, the universe and everything.
One might ask how, exactly, this made me think of those things. It made me think about all of the baggage that I have collected over my forty plus years. I mean, you can swim the 100 meters in full turn out gear with an SCBA (that cool stuff we firefighters wear) but, why would you? It would slow you down and weigh you down considerably. Look up a video of Olympic swimmers. I don’t think they shave all their body hair (some, their heads as well) and wear those little short britches for style points. Olympic style swimmers do these things to reduce friction and weight. To make them go faster. Less resistance.
Many of us continue to carry around all this weight which increases our amount of friction, which hinders our walk with Christ. How can we expect to pull close to Christ when we hang on to so much of our old self. All dead weight. All increasing drag. Keeping us away from our Holy Father.
I have had such struggles in my life with letting go of the old self. I let the world slowly creep back in to my life to the point that I have lost focus of the prize, to finish the race that Jesus has set before me. So now I am chipping away the excess making myself more aerodynamic. So I have less resistance keeping me from Christ.

Behind the white and black

When I was a kid I was a huge wrestling fan. Mr. Wrestling II was my favorite. I remember seeing him wrestle in the local gymnasiums around north Georgia. He had those white trunks and robe with the white mask with black trim. My dad bought me a replica of his mask. I would wear it and pretend that I was II. Then a few years later "Hulkamania" was borne, followed by "Macho Madness." I was hooked. I followed the weekly episodic male soap operas religiously. From Vince McMahon's sports entertainment to the Mid South and the NWA with the Four Horsemen and Sting and Luger, the American Dream. At this age I didn't realize that it was staged. I thought it was REAL. Now during this time I attended a small town Pentecostal church. At this church one summer we had revival, a revival that was preached by a man who was a professional wrestler! He was a local independent wrestler that I had never heard of but still, he was a wrestler!! He was an enigmatic evangelist. He captivated me. I had already "made the walk" down the aisle and accepted Jesus into my heart and was baptized by immersion. But this revival did exactly that, revived me. I was 12. As it ended up our current pastor at the time felt called to another church and the Evangelist Wrestler became our pastor! Excited is an understatement and udder disappointment. All of this to get to this point. I learned that wrestling was "fake", staged, a show. I also learned that a man is a man and not a whole lot to be excited about. I learned that pastors are human. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like me. They are called to service by God, just like everyone else who accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. Sometimes we lose sight of that. They need our prayers and support. They are God's vessel, ordained to deliver His message to us. They are not to be put up on a pedestal and worshiped as an idol. Reverence and respect as a brother or sister. We are all "set apart" for His work. We all have a job to do. Now we need to be like the Samaritan man and get down of our donkey and do as we are commanded. Love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls and love our brothers the same. Go into all the world, spreading the Gospel, being witnesses and Baptizing new believers in Jesus's name and teach them to observe all He has commanded.

A letter to Fefe

When we were married, I stood in front of God and your daddy and said that I would take care of you. Physically, I would like to think that I have done a pretty good job. Spiritually, not so much. You have been my compass to keep me on track more times than I can count. You have been a voice of reason when I needed one. Now I need to step up and take the mantle as the spiritual head of our household. I have held myself back for too long. Playing "second fiddle" to the world we live in instead of being the man of courage that I am called to be. I know that we have had our issues trusting each other much less trust what God has in store for us. Now is the time to step up and be a man, like I have been told to do by so many as of late. I have to answer this call and I NEED your support. I need you to walk beside me, pray for me, and keep me on task. I know it will be a hard road ahead of us but you know we can do it! We have to pull together and make this work. I do not know what all this will entail but we have to do it together. The more I pray and ask God for the path I must take the more He reveals and it is going to be an awesome journey that we must take together! Bottom line is that I love you and want you along for the glorious ride ahead! Our family is in for a great blessing, we just have to be willing to do the work to receive it.

Fasting for Lent

For centuries, Christians have observed the season of Lent by fasting from food and observing other self-denying acts.

These acts help us become more aware of our true needs. When we deny ourselves the comforts we are used to—whether a full plate of food, or some other part of our daily routine (TV, coffee, alcohol, Internet, etc.)— we are more mindful of our great need for God. Also, when we deny our sinful desires, we become more acutely aware of them, for when they are not fed, they tend to surface in more noticeable ways. Most importantly, these practices make us mindful of our need for salvation by Jesus' death on the cross.

Removing Distractions

What follows is some suggestions for ways to fast. None of these are compulsory. Remember that the important thing is to take away distractions, to focus instead on the mercy, salvation, and comforting provision of God. Make time and space for God, and God will meet you.

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What can I give up?

[First, some important considerations: if you have any concerns about whether dietary fasting (fasting from food) is safe for you, ask your physician, especially if you have a health concern (heart, diabetes). ... Don't fast from food if your are pregnant or nursing; make sure you always get plenty of fluids; and finally, don't make decisions for others (for example, don't modify a child's diet except to help them decide to cut nonessentials like sodas or desserts, etc.).]

You know yourself best: which of the following might you do without? Try adding to your list each week (see the individual pages of the Calendar to read more specific suggestions). If you fast from all the food items listed in the Calendar pages, you may find that at the end of several weeks, you are eating very simply: vegetables, beans, rice, fruit, grains, etc. Take the suggestions one step at a time and make sure you do what is necessary to have energy for your work, community, or family.

SUGGESTED FAST ITEMS:

Food: Meats, poultry (eggs too), fats and oils, soft drinks, 2nd helpings, Alcohol, Coffee (try tea or some other low-caffeine drink if you get headaches), dairy (milk and cheese), solid foods (only drink water or juices), Junk foods (chips, snacks, salty food), candy (plus refined sugar in general), and dessert (great for kids—very meaningful!).

Media: TV, movies, computer, email (set an autoresponder), Internet, magazines, radio, the phone (leave your cell phone off when appropriate), handhelds, video games, and other technology ....

Other Things: You may want to fast from certain relationships, or people in general, choosing instead to walk only with God for a period. You may also fast from social events, parties, or clubs, if you regularly go out of your way for that kind of gathering.

Days: Leave it all behind: leave junk food, TV, cars, noise, and all the media and messages of the culture. Pack the very minimum (water, warm clothes, etc.) and find a trail, a mountain, or a beach, and feast on God.

Imitate Jesus, who took whole days to walk alone in the wilderness fasting and praying .... Give God the time and the room that he wants. God wants to fill you up, wants to bless you. If we are constantly pouring other stuff into our heads or stomachs, there will be little room for God.

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On what days should I fast?

Fast on any day but Sunday--the day of the resurrection--which is a feast day even in Lent. On Friday (the day of the crucifixion), many world Christians will fast, and it can be meaningful to join them. Try fasting from something on each day, Monday-Saturday. You may choose one day to fast from all foods or other comforts for as much of the day that you can (remembering to drink plenty of fluids). End your weekly fast on Sunday: on this day, enjoy your food and your freedom!

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Fasting Etiquette

When you fast, you will occasionally be faced with a dilemma: someone offers you food that you have eliminated from your diet. Not everyone knows that you are fasting (nor should they--see below). Just about the time that you are beginning to feel good about going without your daily dose of chocolate—or whatever—somebody comes along to offer it to you with all good intentions. What is the proper response?

Let humility be your guide. Resist the temptation to explain that you are fasting and so refuse. If you can politely refuse without hurting the person's feelings, then do so. But if someone has prepared something for you to bless you (a special desert at the end of a meal, cookies for a visit, or a big steak dinner right after you gave up meat), then perhaps the more humble response is to accept gratefully. After all, the point of Lent is not the elimination of a specific food, it is sacrifice. Sometimes the greater sacrifice is to give up the idea of a perfect day of fasting for the sake of another.

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Matthew 6.16-18

16 ... When you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 17 When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, 18 so that others cannot know that you are fasting, only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. (TEV)

Day 2 and Day 3

I am thankful for my mom, Joyce Arnold. A godly woman who raised me in the ways that are right and holy even though sometimes I didn't follow the path.

I am thankful for my church family. The support they offer me is immeasurable!

Day one of 30 days of thanksgiving

Over the next month I will post about one person I am thankful for and why I am. Today's person is Hayden Arnold, my dad. I am thankful that even though I didn't understand it at the time, he taught me how to be a good Christian father and husband. We didn't always see eyebto eye but now I realize it was because he is a good man an I wasn't b

Haiti-Revisit. By popular demand a repost

There and Back, Again


By: Robie Arnold



As one of my favorite authors wrote a story of Bilbo Baggins, the small hobbit from the Shire who was given a great task to accompany the dwarves on a great mission, I too was given a great task to accompany a group of strangers to a distant land. I was recently called to take a mission trip to the earthquake ravaged island country of Haiti. I was given a great opportunity to share my faith and beliefs through works and assistance to the people there. We left from Atlanta on February 27th by air with a small layover in Miami before we landed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This was my first ever airplane flight and was an experience all to itself. We were on one of the first commercial flights allowed to land in Port-au-Prince and as we flew over the land the deafening sound of silence held me in awe as everyone looked out of their windows at the devastation below.

Once we had landed we were corralled to buses and driven no more than thirty yards to customs. While in customs the sights and sounds were astounding. There was a group of Haitian singers there singing and playing their banjos, accordions and drums while we waited. After we made it through customs we were once again corralled into a “holding area” to wait for our transport. Once our buses arrived, we met our translators and group guides for the week. We loaded the buses and made our way out of the airport and into the hustle and bustle of the open air markets and through the streets of the city. The city itself was amazing. Even through all of the carnage the people were going about their daily routines of survival. We witnessed many new and exciting things while there. The Tap taps (Creole for taxis) were vividly painted and darting in and out of traffic. Children played in and around the streets as the cars whizzed by barely missing other cars, farm animals, and pedestrians by the looks of some of the bumper guards on the vehicles, “barely” wasn’t always the case as there were few that didn’t have some sort of damage to them.

We arrived at the home of our host for the week, Estecoeur Olistin, a Baptist Minister and senior pastor of ten of the churches in and around the city. His home was surrounded by ten foot walls with barbed wire and broken glass bottles on the top of most of the walls leading to the home. He opened his home to the Score International group that I had volunteered with. We were the fifth group of missionaries to stay at his home since the earthquake. Since most of the roof tops are flat there, we decided that this would be a good place to set up our camp. Our small camp of tents on the Pastor’s home paled in comparison to the huge tent cities that stretched as far as the eye could see along the dried river banks. The UN is currently attempting to relocate these tent cities to more suitable locations due to the onset of the rainy season that is currently beginning.

On our second day we attended church service as the “special guest choir” of Pastor Olisin’s. This was a surprise to us but we adapted and overcame. We sang old stand bys like I’ll Fly Away and Amazing Grace. Of course we sang in English but the wonderful part is the church members soon joined us in French and Creole. We were asked to return for the evening service and to learn to sing in Creole. Our team leader was also asked to speak at the service. Once we returned to our camp we hurriedly found our translators and the kitchen girls and learned a couple of simple “children’s songs” in Creole. I do wish I knew what I was saying now or had some way to record ourselves. At the evening service we stood up and sang our songs to much laughter and applause. Our team leader, Justin Mcworter, gave a short sermon on Psalms 73 in which Pastor Olistin translated to the congregation. We met and had fellowship with many of the members of the church before returning to our tents for the night.

Our first day of work saw us travel to the small village of Penye (this is the phonetic spelling) to continue the work of the past groups. The church in this village was severely damaged by the earthquake and was being razed and a new one built in its place. We assisted the men of the church with the removal of usable concrete blocks and reclaimed re-bar. Once this was finished we dug footings for a new foundation for a larger church. The Haitians have no set building codes and things are done a lot differently than they are done here in the states. Instead of concrete footings we placed large boulders in the hand dug trenches and filled the gaps with smaller ones and then bucket by bucket of concrete that was mixed water thin to conserve costs. We used buckets to move the dirt and concrete due to the fact that the one wheel barrel in the village was commandeered by the children to ride up and down the mountain in.

The children of the village quickly stole our hearts and our water, but that’s another story all together. We played games with the kids and sang songs; they do a good rendition of “Who let the Dogs Out.” The kids made their own kites and flew them with us. There were hardly any toys as we are used to seeing there. One little girl had a naked Barbie and would not let it out of her clutches. It gave me a great appreciation of what my daughter takes for granted with her Santa’s Wish List every year. We had a storage closet that we were keeping our supplies, bottled water and food inside. We kept noticing certain kids would disappear for periods of time and then would return with empty water bottles. They were drinking and then pouring out our water to have the bottles to sword fight with!

We went to an orphanage and school that the church sponsored and helped feed the children there. The church sponsors over 100 children every day. Some are there because they lost parents during the quake and some are there because they have no place else to go. All are welcome as long as they follow the few rules posted. I set up a small clinic to tend some healing wounds ranging from earthquake damage all the way to everyday scrapes and bruises that children get. Soon after we toured the city and saw the damage first hand. There are still collapsed buildings that have not been searched and still thousands unaccounted for. We went to Pitionville the area where Hotel Montana was located. We also saw the Presidential Palace and the Commons where several thousand refugees are staying directly across the way.

Day after day we hiked up the mountain to the church and by the last day our results were applauded by the villagers. The foundation for the new church was complete and ready for the floor to go down. It was sad to leave the people that we had gotten to know personally and especially the children we came in contact with. Our last day with Pastor Olistin, he pleaded with us not to forget what we saw or what we learned. He tasked each of us with coming back to Haiti and coming back to stay with him any time that we could. He said he understood the financial obligations that it took each of us just to make the short journey there but also it would never compare to the lives we touched and the experiences we gained. Would I go back to the 105* heat and less than ideal living arrangements to work harder than I ever had before? I would leave tomorrow if I could.