My First E-Book Release

By The Howitzer | Published: December 22, 2009

transparency leadI am releasing my first e-book today.  It is a collection of my writing in 2009.  I have entitled it

Best of The Howitzer
Random Thoughts of a Distracted Soul
2009 Collection

Best of The Howitzer- 2009 Collection

Pretty Snazy Huh?

You can view a copy by clicking here.  Hope you enjoy!

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Experientially Speaking

By The Howitzer | Published: December 12, 2009

glory leadYou don’t have to read the writings of the Apostle Peter for very long before realizing that he was deeply impacted by the transfiguration. You know the story: Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain and He was changed before their eyes (Mark 9:2-13). He began to illuminate and His clothes became whiter than any bottle of Clorox could bleach them. Literally the shekinah glory of God shone through Him. Moses and Elijah from the OT Hall of Fame showed up to have a pow-wow with Jesus. Peter was scared spitless and in his standard foot-in-mouth mode of operation he began to yap about the equality of the three. That’s when the very voice of God the Father spoke directly to the disciples and affirmed Jesus’ preeminence. Experientially speaking Peter would never be the same. Listen to his musing about the experience years later: Read More »

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Snapshot Behind the Curtain

By The Howitzer | Published: December 9, 2009

photo leadSometimes I wish that we could peel back the curtain of life and see the spiritual reality that the Bible describes.  We live in a very physical, tangible, see-it, taste-it, touch-it, and feel-it world.  But our existence whether we recognize it or not is back draped by an intangible spiritual side as well.

Several months ago I was debating a guy on an atheistic online forum about the existence of the soul.  He wanted me to define what a soul was and to prove that man had a soul.   Read More »

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“You’re Not as Bad as Everybody Says”

By The Howitzer | Published: December 8, 2009

lightning leadReprinted from ReadyAimLife

“I think you’re getting better.” I wasn’t sure exactly how to respond to my latest compliment. I think my evaluator’s heart was good but her choice of words left a little to be desired. Actually, a lot to be desired. Fortunately, my ego wasn’t that fragile or I could have gotten really discouraged. But, I learned a valuable lesson in how NOT to encourage someone in their gifting. Especially, when they are just getting started.

Did you know that you are gifted? No, really! YOU are gifted! YOU are talented! Maybe you never made it to the gifted and talented program in your school (which by the way only measures academic prowess) but God has made you special. The Bible says, that YOU are the workmanship of God (Eph 2:10). The Greek word there is poiema, which is akin to our word for poem. YOU are a poem of God, a variable masterpiece. In the Psalms the Scriptures say that YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Ps 139: 13-14). And to quote an unknown modern day redneck philosopher, “God don’t make no junk.” Listen to what Peter say in 1 Peter 4:10-11, Read More »

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You Have What It Takes!

By The Howitzer | Published: December 5, 2009

army leadReprinted from ReadyAimLife

One of the secret anxieties of many men is a nagging question that sometimes never gets answered.  The question is simple yet profound:  DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Do I have what it takes to be the leader in my family?  Do I have what it takes to be an indispensable asset in the workplace?  Do I have what it takes to be a dynamic contributor in my church and community?  Do I have what it takes to be an effective manager of my resources (time, talents, treasure)?  Do I have what it takes to be a responsible steward of my physical health and fitness?  Do I have what it takes to be a sincere, authentic friend in my social network?  Do I have what it takes to become a godly man not only on a behavior level but also on the inside of my soul?  THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES! Read More »

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What Would You Say?

By The Howitzer | Published: September 1, 2009

josh-knowledge

I had an interesting Internet reaction to something that I had written recently.  I periodically write a series of articles called Letters to Joshua.  One of these got picked up on a website called TheFatherLife.  I was writing a letter to Josh about Proverbs 1:7, which says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” I had a gentlemen disagree with me and was a little surprised by his strong opinion of my mental abilities.

Here is what he had to say:  ”Wisdom and religion are two separate things. Having religion makes you no more wise than having wisdom makes you religious. This is yet another example of the contradictions that have become the modern Bible. In the passage quoted fear of the Lord is necessary yet in many other passages throughout the Bible the Lord is referred to as loving and a benevolent being. Why would you fear a loving and benevolent being? This kind of logic is false logic and contradictory. What is important is to teach our children what is wrong and right, not because religion dictates it rather because it is what we believe is morally necessary to function as an evolving and enlightened society. Lastly on another note your profile statement claiming yourself as a thinker is an insult to thinkers and freethinkers everywhere. A thinker wouldn’t teach children they need to be morale because of a fear of the Lord. They would teach them being morale is out of respect for our fellow human being. Religion while it can have a place in morality is not and should not be a means to an end. If history has taught us anything about religion it is that religion does not and has not brought us morality any more than it brought righteousness. We can teach morality but ultimately cannot dictate it.”

What would you say to that?

Click Here to See The Article

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Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grade Sunday School Teacher?- 8/23/09

By The Howitzer | Published: August 24, 2009

Topic: Jesus is God’s Son

Key Verse: A voice from heaven said, “this is my Son, and I love him.  I am very pleased with Him.”  Matthew 3:17

Whose son is Jesus?  The Biblical reality is that Jesus is God the Father’s only begotten Son?  Jesus is also Joseph’s  son even though his virgin wife Mary was a full-fledged surrogate.  Jesus is called the Son of God and the Son of Man.   In the same breath we say that he is not only a son but He is God.   How do you explain all that to a 2nd Grade Boy?  You have to be pretty smart to be a 2nd Grade Teacher.  I hope I am up for the task.

The question we spent most of our time today on was, “is Jesus God or is Jesus God’s Son?”  The answer is yes.  He is God and He is God the Father’s Son.  Here is an illustration we shared with the boys.  Enjoy!

Trinity JPEG

This series is a journal of real lessons that we are working on in my son’s 2nd grade boys Sunday school class that I teach at our Church.  What a great honor to be assisting our boy’s parents in raising up the next generation.  Where do the next spiritual giants come from? Where does the next set of godly moms and dads come?  Where do our leaders of the future come?  We think a good number of them just started the 2nd Grade.  Pray for us as work on understanding key concepts of the faith.  If you have any ideas that you think you can add to our topic jump on in and leave a comment, that is if you think you are smarter than a 2nd Grade Sunday school teacher.

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Looking for God in the Bible

By The Howitzer | Published: August 22, 2009

god bible

It’s funny where God is disappearing these days.  In the late 1800s, Nietzsche said that God was dead and for many He began to disappear in their lives.  Then they decided that prayer in schools was “un-constitutional” and He began to disappear from the schools.  Some want Him to disappear in the pledge of allegiance.  And if you have been perusing the internet much you begin to realize that there are huge numbers of atheist who are beginning to evangelize the public with their God-doesn’t-exist philosophies (which is interesting that a finite being would claim to possess enough information to be able to state categorically that God does not exist, therefore making themselves out to have all knowledge and thus claiming to be the very being they say does not exist). Read More »

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Thomas Akempis: Obedience and Subjection

By The Howitzer | Published: August 20, 2009

IT IS a very great thing to obey, to live under a superior and not to be one’s own master, for it is much safer to be subject than it is to command. Many live in obedience more from necessity than from love. Such become discontented and dejected on the slightest pretext; they will never gain peace of mind unless they subject themselves wholeheartedly for the love of God. Go where you may, you will find no rest except in humble obedience to the rule of authority. Dreams of happiness expected from change and different places have deceived many. Everyone, it is true, wishes to do as he pleases and is attracted to those who agree with him. But if God be among us, we must at times give up our opinions for the blessings of peace. Furthermore, who is so wise that he can have full knowledge of everything? Do not trust too much in your own opinions, but be willing to listen to those of others. If, though your own be good, you accept another’s opinion for love of God, you will gain much more merit; for I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it than to give it. It may happen, too, that while one’s own opinion may be good, refusal to agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.

thomas-akembis

a Kempis, T. (1996). The imitation of Christ (Electronic Edition.). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.

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Howitzer Online Bible Study: Romans 13

By The Howitzer | Published: August 14, 2009

thebible

The Online Bible Study posts are designed for discussion. I am posting some key passages from the Bible hoping that you will chime in with your observations, interpretation, questions and applications. Just add your thoughts to the comment section.

13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Love, for the Day Is Near Read More »

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