When you here the word “standard”, what comes to mind? Webster has a few definitions that include: “something established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value or quality.” “ Astructure built for serving as a base or support.” Other words used to describe a “standard” are “gauge” “yardstick” and “criterion”.

While working at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with the Campus Police Department, I moved up through the ranks as a patrolman then as a Sergeant with duties that included training of Officers and Watchmen and keeping our “SOP” up to date. This “SOP” was our Standard Operating Procedures. Even though it would never include every scenario that our Officers would face it gave a basis, a foundation of  where to start.  When I moved back to Birmingham and worked with the Power Company as a Corporate Security Officer, I again moved up through the ranks. I closed that chapter of my life having gone back through our “SOP” and made continuous updates as needed. I now work with the Customer Service Organization and I still have an “SOP”, but the term is simply shortened to “Standards“.

When I found the clip art for this blog, the first thing I thought of was the automobile industry. But “standards” are all around us. It seems that the general standard for life is “do what feels good to me, and don’t worry about anyone else!“  This is know as Post-Modernism. What about the days when people looked out for one another? People throughout history have struggled with this concept. Cain, in Genesis 4:9, was approached by God about Abel and his response was “am I my brother’s keeper?”

What about a person’s “standard of living?” The “standardof living” refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people, and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population.”  Our world is full of marketing “gimmicks” and people buy into what others say they “have to have” in order to live. Americans are now trying to keep up with the Jones’!

What is God’s “standard?” I see God’s “standard” wrapped in the words of Jesus. According to Luke 9:23 Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus is also recorded in Matthew saying “but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

What is the “standard” that you have set for yourself this week? What is the “standard” for your family? Is it your “standard” to follow God’s “standard“, or will you continue trying the keep up with the Jones’?

My Saturday started out being at the church around 8:00  AM for three basketball games. I was looking forward to meeting Sandy and the kids in Trussville at her mom and dad’s house. The reason that we were going to meet was to take a walk down the tracks behind their home to an area out of the way and shoot soda cans with my Glock 9mm. It has been a long time since I have shot a weapon and was looking forward to getting familiar with the feel of the grip in my hand and after an easy pull of the trigger and a slight recoil of the weapon, seeing the can I was aiming for to fall over. I was looking forward to letting Sandy shoot as well.

After the third game the rain had stopped and the sun was out and the weather was a little warmer. It was setting up to be a nice afternoon with the family. We were supposed to meet around 1:00, so I went on to Trussville to look for ear plugs. Neither Sams nor WalMart had what I was looking for. So, by myself I had lunch at Sams… they have a good pizza combo and waited for Sandy to call. After we talked and she relayed to her folks our intentions, we found that what was a common practice…about 6 years ago was no longer “a common practice”. So, I got back home first with the rest of the family not far behind. After getting home, I spent time looking back over my Sunday school lesson for Sunday, January, 25th.

Our lesson speaks about the Throne of God and his nature. The lesson looks at three different pictures of this throne. The first is in Isaiah with the second in Ezekiel and the third in Revelation. Since we normally do not have time to get through the entire lesson, this week I focus on Isaiah 6.

Isaiah says that in his vision he sees the Lord seated on a throne high and exalted with His train filling the temple. Just like you, I have seen the weather change in dramatic ways this week, and as I walked today seeing the cloudless day and feeling the warmth, I stopped and thanked the Lord for it. The song continues reminding us that the whole earth is full of His glory. Everywhere I look, I am supposed to see His glory; but I tend to see his glory on the otherside of situations that I get in.

A couple of weeks ago Sandy’s mom went through a surgical procedure that, to say the least, weighed heavy on the family and thinking about myself at one particular moment, I felt like I seperated myself from my wife because I was not there to give her what she needed. We are better now, and I am thankful that the Lord did not leave her, like I felt I did in that moment she needed me to be…understanding. This is one of those situations. I look back and see God in His glory working in the life of her mom and today she seems to be doing better.

He IS NOT simply the “big man upstairs” or any other slang that we attach to Him, He is my mother-in laws Great Physican. He is the creator and sustainer of ALL life. He has my best in mind. He is Holy. He is set apart. Because we are His children we are to be set apart in every area of our life!

Are there areas in your life this week where you have not practiced holiness? Are there times this week where, If someone knew that you professed to be a child of the King, your life would have reflected it? What can you, what can I do this week…the rest of today to he holy, to be set apart?

The link below is to the YouTube video of Isaiah 6. The music is set to photographs to help us reflect on His holiness. 

Isaiah 6…Todd Agnew

Blinders for a horse limit vision to the rear and sides. Racehorse trainers tend to believe that with the use of blinders, a horse will keep attention to the track and race in front of him and pay less attention to distractions such as the crowds.

Consider Hebrews 12:1-2 from the Contemporary English Version which reads:

Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!

Fred commented on paying the price! What happens if a race horse looses focus? What happens if that race horse starts to notice the crowds, pays more attention to the noise or falls to some other distraction? The simple answer is that he may not win.

Are you like Fred? Your blinders may have you focused on your wife/girlfriend, but do you stop short and allow other things to come into view and trip you up?

If you have tripped and fell, are you staying down or are you doing what you can to get back up and continue the race? Let me encourage you with these two final verses. I am giving you the reference only because I want you to look them up. They are: Philippians 4:13 and Matthew 6:33.

FBC Pinson Men–Welcome to your personal page on the net and the church web site. With this site, it is our prayer that you will find the information here useful, beneficial and a blessing.

Scripture points out…” As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17. When you ask men if they have an accountability partner, the answer more times than not is “no“.  This site gives men the chance to be accountable .

There are a few pages here now. One gives a description of what our ministry is about. Another will be an area where we will be able to blog our thoughts and put “feet” to Prov. 27:17. The last page, for right now, is centered around the Bible study that we are in. There will be posts concerning where we are in the study and will allow us to share with and pray for each other as we journey through the process.

I want to thank Jeff  Wilson for assisting me in starting this blog. Jeff, I appreciate you brother and I thank God that he has brought you and your family to our church and that you have the ability to provide this avenue for our men to connect and build closer relationships with our Heavenly father and our other brothers in Christ.