A Life that made a difference..James Mceachern

My heart has been heavy the past few days since learning of the passing one of the men in my personal "Hall of Fame". Jim Mceachern was one of the founders of the Tom James Company and was a brilliant businessman. But that is not who he really was...he was a man who the Lord used to make a difference for HIS kingdom. Character is defined as "the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person from another" Jim's character is what made him stand out from the crowd because his charcater was rooted in GOD.
¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

Everything about Jim came from the core fact that you could tell he was spending time with Jesus. He was what I would describe as "scripture with legs" and he displayed this to his wife,kids,grandkids,friends and business associates in the corporate world. It is said that true wisdom is viewing life from God's perspective, so I would have to say that Jim had true wisdom. My wife found this qoute from Bily Graham about character and I think it says what Jim would want said about his life...."True greatness is not measured by the headlines a person commands or the wealth he accumulates. The inner character of a person--the undergirding moral and spiritual values and commitments--is the true measure of lasting greatness. THANK YOU JIM FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!
This was one of his final Facebook post before he passed way this week that tells us who he was...I'm grateful to God for giving me a wonderful family ... Arlene, Karen, Mike, Lynda, Angie, Jerald, Mindy, Michael McD, Jeff, Jonathan, Robert, Katy, Josh, Dan, Caleb, Melissa, James, Melinda, Melanie, Michael S, Michael T, Nathan, Mitchell, Micah, Mekaylee, Candace, Stephanie, Lylah, Tiffany & Juan. My greatest desire is to spend all eternity with God, with them and with all our friends in Heaven !

Commitment

Definition of COMMITMENT

a : an agreement or pledge to do something

b : something pledged

c : the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled

I found this definition in the Webster's Online Dictionary.  As I let in soak in I realized that commitment is the very thing Satan doesn't want us to understand.  If we "pledge" to pursue HIM or are "emotionally impelled" to have faith in HIM then Satan has a tough time having his way in our life.  Another thing the enemy doesn't want us to stay committed to is our Fire team of men that we have "pledged" and "agreed" to be involved.  He wants us to be uncommitted and let each other down.  Especially this time of the year...he will get us to think we have "too much going on" or "it's summertime" and I will take a break for awhile.   Remember the example of the lion following the flock of sheep hiding in the bushes waiting for one of them to "drift off" so he can jump out and devour them while they "have too much going on" or "it's summer time so I am going to take a break".

So are you staying committed to your pursuit of HIM?

Are you staying committed to your team of guys?

Can they count on your committtment?

Are you someone who will follow through on your commitments?

 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. "   1Peter 5:8 (ESV)  

Wise Counsel

I have the awesome blessing each Sunday to teach an ABF class (sunday school) and this past Sunday our lesson was from 1 Kings 12.  We see in that chapter young King Rehoboam (Solomon's son) is approached by the people to "lighten the hard sevice of his father and his heavy yoke he had placed on them"   So Rehoboam seeks counsel on how he should respond He initially cconsults with the elders who had served his father. They were men of experience and they gave Rehoboam very practical and wise counsel.  But it says that he forsook their counsel and consulted with young men who grew up with him and served him.  They lacked experience and wisdom and were just "echoers" of what ever Rehoboam was thinking.  It doesnt say he ever went to God for counsel.  This account caused me to think about two questions  1.) Where must we go to get wise counsel?  2.) But whom do I go to recieve wise counsel?    The enemy wants me to seek my own wisdom and he also wants me to stay so busy in my life that I dont have a group of men that I meet and invest time each week. That keeps me from having Christian men in my life that I can turn to when I need mature counsel.

So where do you turn when you need cousel in your life?   It must be HIM first!!
Then you must turn to mature men in their walk (Heb. 5:13-14) to reinfocre the counsel HE gives you!

"The way of the fool is right in his own eyes. But a wise man is he who listens to counsel"  (Prov 12:15)

Stretching Yourself

I was having dinner a few weeks ago with a dear friend and he made an interesting comment  "If I told you three things that would make you more successful at your business you would implement them by 9am the next morning.  Yet when we tell others that developing a deeper relationship with the God of the Universe will be the ongoing answer to all our struggles and problems, it only causes a small "blip" in there commitment to spending more time with God"    It is said that the average Christian spends less than 10 minutes a day with the Creator of Time itself.   We seem to have bought into the enemies way of thinking...spend our time pursuing everything else but an intimate relationship with God.  Keep doing the same old things instead of changing...instead of stretching and reaching for more in our relationship with HIM.   The visual I have in my mind lately has been the image of me "stretching/reaching" in my walk with HIM (A outstretched hand) and because of that it allows God to pull me up to a new level in my walk with HIM because I was stretching myself.  Stretching myself allows me to quit settling for good in my walk with HIM and encounter excellence!!

"If excellence was a possibility, why would you settle for good?"

So are you stretching yourself in your walk or are you doing the same thing over and over expecting something different??

THE WORLD IS ENDING

This was written by my 23 yr. old son and I thought it would be good to share with all of you.


by Tyler Brown on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 10:40pm

I don’t blog, I don’t write notes, this is a first for me, but it’s one of those nights and I need to be around someone, but since it’s just me and the cat I guess writing will have to do.
So tomorrow the world is supposed to end, who knew? I have been looking at all the stuff that these people are saying about the world ending and I can’t help but laugh. Sure the world can whenever, it could end while I am writi……… Just kidding but seriously, tomorrow is not guaranteed, but what these people are saying, the reasons the world is going to end are crazy.
But let’s say that without doubt we knew tonight was our last night, the last night of Earth. What would we do? To be honest people’s answers upset me, especially as someone that knows truth. I hear so many times people say they would spend it with family, with the people they love and cherish. Then there is the majority, people who say they would do things they have never done before, things they only ever dreamed of. There are those that say they would spend the last hours hooking up with whomever, experiencing a little romance. And although all that sounds fun what should we be doing?
Up until very recently my answer would have been the same as those mentioned above, but God has allowed me to see things and feel things that I never have before. Because of that, what I would do in the last hours of Earth is the same thing I long to be doing in the constant present,something that I pray becomes true in my life. That is to share my Savior with those that do not know him. If we look at the stats of it all: 35% of the 6,919,718,894 people in this world proclaim to “know” Christ as savior. So if you believe in truth, in the truth that only those that know Christ will be accepted into eternal life with God (Romans 3:23) Then where does that leave the other 65% percent of the world, it leaves them in eternal suffering. So if the world ends tomorrow that leaves 4,497,817,281 people separated from a Holy God. That’s right I said 4,497,817,281, people you go to school with, people in your family, that guy you head nod walking down the street, lots and lots of “innocent” (Romans 1:18-23) but guilty people.
So where does that leave us? Leave me? How should my last hours on Earth be spent? Simple, sharing the Gospel with any that I have the privilege of being around. But I think its much more than that. Tomorrow is not promised so technically everyday is the last day, because of that we should be driven to do something with the hours that we are blessed with.
Sure tell that girl that you have always loved the truth, let her know that she has always been the one written on your heart (I will let you guess on who mine is) but do more than that. If you proclaim to know Christ, then proclaim him. Be willing and with that you will be used. I have made a lot of mistakes in the last couple years, I have burned lots of bridges and caused a lot of pain, but through that all God has truly blessed me. He gave me the breath of life today, a breath that should not be wasted on the desires of this world but on things that glorify Him, the one true King. Unfortunately my actions may have added to that 4,497,817,281; but hopefully my actions in the future will be used by my creator to reduce that number. My life is forfeit as long as His is glorified.

 So the world may very well end tomorrow (I hope it at least makes it to July 22 which is the premiere of the Captain America movie) So don’t waste it, everyday is a gift, use it to the fullest.

CEO

I was recently challenged by an article I read about a man who had decided to be the CEO of his family,workplace and church.  In the article he explained what he meant by the title CEO.  It stood for Chief Encouragement Officer.  He stated how much he had recognized the need for people to be encouraged and appreciated.  I have started to notice that same need in people. As a matter of fact I believe our society is starving for encouragement.  I looked up the word encourage and words like strengthen and support are used.  Romans 15:5 states..."now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be one of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus"  So apparently encouragement and perseverance are connected.  Could it be that when we encourage others that it helps them persevere? Could it be it strengthens them to deal with there circumstances?  Could it be that it brings about some hope when things seem hopeless?  Could it be that it reveals Jesus to them?
Jesus was constantly encouraging others.  People wanted to be around Him because they felt strengthened and hopeful.  HE was the ultimate CEO!  So do you think you could set aside time to send a note,type out an email/text and let a wife, a child,a friend , or a co -worker know how much you appreciate them and encourage them to keep pursuing HIM and HIS heart.  I think our homes,workplaces and churches need alot more CEO's!!

Public Enemy #1

It was announced last night that U.S troops finally caught up with Osama Bin Laden and killed him. Justice for his actions occured. Good triumphed over evil as it always does. A sense of closure for the families of the victims of  9/11 was brought about.  But as I watched the celebrating on all the television networks I saw newspaper headlines and signs that read..."Rot in Hell", "Public Enemy #1 is Dead"  and there were various others.  I want to admit that I am relieved and thankful that he is dead and I want to say God Bless the men and women who risk their lives to protect us and our freedom.  But with that said I can't overlook the fact that another man died without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior.  The headline that read "rot in hell" got my attention.  How many people do I encounter that will do just that?  Do I have a burden to make sure that doesn' happen?  Am I angiushed that another man died without knowing Jesus?  The other headline that read "Public Enemy #1 is Dead" made me realize that Satan wants us to believe that evil people are our main concern when in reality Satan is "Public Enemy #1" and he didn't die in that Pakistan compound. He is alive and "goes around like a roaring lion looking for somone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8)   My desire is that we will realize that the true number one enemy wants as many as possible to rot in hell.  Praise God that HE already knows that and has done HIS part to protect us from Public Enemy #1   HE is longing for me and you to let HIM work through us to bring as many as possible into HIS safety and victory!!

HE was never in a hurry

Many years ago I attended the funeral of the father of one of the mentors in my life.  My friend actually spoke at the funeral and I remember two impactful things he said about his father.  He said his father was never in a hurry and that he was the most innocent man he ever knew.  He said his father always had time for other people and never rushed along in his daily pace. He stated his father's innocence came from the fact that he believed in the promises of God. He never doubted them and found true hope in those promises.  In Mark 5, we see Jesus display that He was never in a hurry and that He would not be hurried along by the world around Him.

'Who touched me?'" ³²And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴And he said to her, "Daughter,^(I) your faith has made you well;^(J) go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
 ³⁵While he was still speaking, there came from^(K) the ruler’s house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why^(L) trouble^(M) the Teacher any further?" ³⁶But overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus said to^(N) the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

What do you think the father of the little girl was thinking about Jesus "not being in a hurry"?  Jesus takes time to focus on this woman. He displays the fact that God's grace has it's own schedule and timing.

I saw 60 year old men crying at this man's funeral because he had displayed grace to them by never being in a hurry just like Jesus. I pray that at my funeral they will say "He was never in a hurry!"

YOU are really and truly and completely FREE!!

I recently had a book reccomended to me by Alan Miller,pastor of First Missionary Baptist.  It is titled  A Scandalous Freedom...The radical nature of the Gospel.  I have only gotten through the first two chapters but have already underlined and highlighted numerous things.  I was really struck by the following from pgs. 12 and 13......  "There is no kicker. There is no if and or but. You are free. Abraham Lincoln went to a slave market. There he noted a young,beautiful African-American woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder. He bid on her and won.He could see the anger in the young woman's eyes and could imagine what she was thinking.Another white man who will buy me,use me,and then discard me. As Lincoln walked off with his property, he turned to the woman and said, "You're free."    "Yeah. What does that mean?" she replied.   "It means that you're free"   "Does it mean I can say whatever I want, be whatever I want, go wherever I want?"  "Yes, it means you can do all those things."  "Then," said the young woman, "I think I'll go with you"  That is what God has done for us. We have been bought with a price, the price of God's own Son.  We are really and truly and completely free!!!

HE works all things for good

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way"  (Prov. 20:24)

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive"   (Gen 50:20)

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God....(Rom 8:28)

I just returned from Louisville this afternoon after meeting with a Hematology/Oncologist.  He adviced me on the next steps on this journey I have been on since the discovery of a mass in my pelvic area.  This mass was found as a result of a cat scan that was conducted after a major traffic accident on January 20th.   In reviewing the events that happened the past 10 weeks and tying them in with scriptures that God has laid on my heart it is very evident that HE is in charge and that HE is constantly working things in my life for good...HIS good!! But sometimes I may not see it.
As we study the account of Joseph and his brothers in the book of Genesis we see that after Joseph became "prime minister" of Egypt that his brothers come to him to purchase grain for their family. Years had obviously passed and the brothers did not recognize Joseph but he recognized them and proceeded to "test" them. As the brothers returned to Jacob,there father,they informed him of the situation(Gen 42:26-35) and we see in v.36 that Jacob reacts to the news "You have bereaved me of my children:Joseph is no more,and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me."    This is Jacob,the man who had wrestled with God. The grandson of Father Abraham!  But he basically says he is devastated,everything is against me!  He is on the edge of utter despair!
The perception is that things arent well with Joseph's soul.   But things aren't always as they seem to the naked eye!
What was the reality?
-Joseph was some more!
-Joseph was the prime minister of Egypt!
-Simeon, humanly speaking was never more safe than at that moment in the custody of his brother!
-Simeon was some more,not no more!
-Jacob never had more going for him that in that moment!
-The whole drama here is showing that God in his providence has Jacob and his sons in the palm of HIS hands!
-It was all totally and completely invisible to Jacob!

As I have looked back at the last 10 weeks I realize "that God causes all things to work together for good...."

The GIFT the world cannot give

 As my walk with the Lord has matured I have made this statement numerous times..."the greatest gift the Lord has given me besides my salvation is the gift of peace" 

Definition of PEACE ( Webster's Dictionary)

1

: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom <a breach of the peace>

2

: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions

3

: harmony in personal relations

 I pulled some of the words from Webster's definition that I thought would fit into my description of the gift of peace..."a state of quiet", "freedom", "a state of security", "freedom from oppressive thoughts", "harmony in personal relations"....then I read  John 14:27 (NLT version)

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So dont be troubled or afraid"

This peace from God is unlike any peace the world can offer to you and I.  I believe that ultimately everybody desires one thing when they lay there head down on the pillow each night---not more money, not a bigger house,not power and fame---I believe everybody wants peace!!   So we go about in the world seeking it and as I was on this journey seeking it I realized that the only place that tells me it has been truly offered to me was in the Word of God...."I am leaving you with a gift---peace...."   Why would someone keep seeking something that cannot be found in the place they are seeking it?  Yet that is happening every minute of every day.  I have aksed God to give me His eyes and His heart to be able to recognize those that are on this journey searching for peace.  Then for HIM to give me the strength and power to share with them that this world cannot give them what they are searching for but there is someone who can and it is a free gift!!   This gift will allow me,you and them to live our lives not troubled or afraid as we hold tightly to His hand and walk in His steps not ours.

Father, thank you for your gift of peace!!

REFLECTION....an inner conversation

In 2 Samuel 22:2-51 we see King David starts to look back at his life,tracking the hand of God in his life.  This section of scripture is virtually identical to Psalm 18.  In the book of Psalms this song is employed as a pattern of worship for the Isrealites of old but is that same example to us.  David's message is really quite simple:

v.1-3  He praises God because God is the one who keeps him safe
v. 4-20  When he called on God, God rescued him. When he was in trouble, he called on God and God heard him and saved him  (many times from himself)
v. 21-29 God saved him because God had called him righteous
v. 30-46 God saved him by giving him the strength to fight and to prevail over his enemies
v. 47-50   He just praises God!!
v. 51  Because God had shown HIS lovingkindness, He would show it to David's descendants

David stops and takes time to reflect on what God had done in his life.  He looked back at every event, every human transaction and discovered the "oil and gold" from God's hand being on his life.  He didnt allow his present circumstances to rob him of the joy of the Lord in his life.    It is said that leaders that who dont take the time,who dont feel the need,who do not think they are capable of inner conversations (reflection) with God,put themselves in enormous danger.

Are you so busy that you arent "mining the oil and discovering the gold" from God's hand in your life?   Do you realize that helps ease suffering from trial and tribulations?   It allows us to start viewing life from God's perspective instead of the enemies.
It's said that.."All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber"

Are you learning how to be alone?    You cant have inner conversations until you do.   The more you are alone, the more you will crave to be alone.  Then HE will sit  patiently in that "loneliness" with you as you reflect om HIM and the grace HE has bestowed on you.   HE is so faithful!!!

Are we limiting HIM in our lives??

Recently I read this from Oswald Chambers..."We limit the Holy One by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past."   I had to ask myself .."Is that my expectation of God?"  I would have to say alot times it probably is, but why do I think that way?   Hasn't scripture constantly shown me that HE can do the amazing and it even states that what is impossible with man is possible with GOD.  My wife and I were talking yesterday about my recent health issues and she said she had been pondering whether or not we should be claiming victory for God that he answered prayers in making this mass that was found not be cancer.  The doctors are saying that it apparently is something related to an old football injury.  NO!  It's HIM answering prayers and HIM doing more for me than anything HE had done in my past!!   My expectation of HIM has to be based on who HE is not my past experiences.   We see in Joshua 10:12-13 what that looks like...Joshua was leading an attack of the Amorites and HE asked God to do something that would seem "crazy" by most of our thinking.
"O sun stand still at Gibeon,and O moon in the valley of Aijalon.  So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies."

Joshua had an "audacious faith" to ask God to make the sun stand still.  Scripture doesnt tell us that God had ever done anything like this before for Joshua.  So he wasn't limiting God by his own past experiences. What's really crazy is that it says GOD did what Joshua asked!   WOW!!  That is the GOD we serve.  GOD chose to answers Joshua's prayer.  HE did what only HE could do.  HE did it in a way that cant be explained and that His people would never forget.  HE wants to do exceedingly,abundanly more than we could ever imagine so we can marvel at HIM everyday.  How about asking and trusting HIM to do just that!!!!

Four Things

Through my recent health issues I have had the blessing of getting to spend alot of time alone with HIM.  He has used that time to allow me to go through one of His many "classes" In this classroom of life he has revealed to me that I had forgotten my first love (Rev 2:4) He has shown me that my first love has its origin around "4 Things"

1. Stay close to ME
2. Trust (really trust!!) ME and obey ME
3. Love others
4. Spread the gospel

HE has revealed to me that no matter my circumstances (cancer or no cancer,good health or bad health,financial problems or no financial problems,etc.) that I can still focus on those 4 things thus never forgetting my first love.   Undersatnding that HIS love empowers and enables others attitudes and behaviors to be changed provides so much hope.   The enemy wants me to constantly question who I am and distract me from my first love and that is why really believing and understanding that I am who HE says I am is so vital to being able to stay focused on the 4 Things.  Keep pursuing HIM and HE will draw you nearer and reveal HIS simplicity and HIS amazing love!!!