Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada
JUNE / JULY 2004
Cover |
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One-On-One with Jeff Frankenstein |
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Socially Acceptable Sin
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The Music of Duvall
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More Than Accountability
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God in the Wild
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The Pond or the Power
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Surrender
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LifeLine
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Viva III
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Unlike the battles from some of my favorite movies this "battle" I
wage is against a righteous and just "army". The ruler that I will
be subject to if I surrender is the very definition of love. And
this is the difference, God is love. The problem is that my heart
gets confused and disoriented from living in a world where sin has
gained a foothold and surrender often results in injury to the
persons with no power. What we fail to understand and exert
ourselves to grasp is that Jesus really does love us and wants to
do good things for us. "For I know the plans I have for you," says
the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give
you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) I reach for these words
with longing and tentiveness in equal measure. Is it really true
that God wants to give me good gifts? Can I trust God to do what
is best for me? I regularly fight a deep-seated fear that if I do
not take control of my life and pursue my desires life will be
unbearable. I don't want to live under the rule of the kind of
power that all of my heroes fight against. And this brings me to
the heart of the matter, an epiphany, a time of choosing…
This God who asks for my surrender is in love with me. He holds his
arms open wide to me, whispers in my ear, kisses me on the cheek,
and looks into my eyes with affectionate passion… His son gave up
all that heaven has to offer in order to die my death. God truly
loves me and my heart knows it. This changes everything. A paradigm
shift takes place and I realize that if I surrender to God he will
give me abundance of life, a life I could never obtain on my own.
- Alan Penner
