The Freedom Response

You are not that man anymore.

Transformation happens through moments of unplanned events that arise from individual moments of preparation. 

Let me explain. 

Transformation happens through times of unseen growth that eventually show up in ways of grace, mercy, love and forgiveness, a sound mind and strength…in humility - during much needed times of leading into things you may have been avoiding or just not sure of what to do. 

One day you are driving and someone cuts you off and you do not react…you respond in freedom. How? With patience, not tightening up or using language that only you say out loud in your car. 

One day you are in an argument and instead of reacting to and taking on their anger or anxiety…you respond in freedom. How? You have peace and can stay level headed with guiding the conversation. 

You are leading instead of reacting. 

One day someone notices something different about you…you are no longer that man anymore. 

And you aren’t.

Its a process. 

Something ...

Learning How to Journal with God - Part 1

Have you ever seen a journal with the thought that buying it will add value to your life? It does once you learned how to use it. A journal for me is not about fixing my life…it is about observing, becoming aware of and recording life to discover meaning, purpose and how I can serve others best. 

I came up with a system that helped me to see how God was working in my life and I realized he has been active in my life but I was missing out on him being in my life based on a limited perspective. 

What I have come up with is called The Freedom Response Lifestyle Sheet and it has helped change my perspective and it has for others as well that try it out. 

This is not about achieving an outcome, as an outcome can change, or I can lose interest in it…or, God can take it away. 

What is MORE significant is about WHO I AM BECOMING regardless of what happens. 

Sure I have goals and it is this Lifestyle Sheet that keeps me focused on what is import...

Creativity is a God-given gift to be expressed, shared with others and an element of our design to be used to help others experience God’s kingdom and his grace, wonder, amazement & glory. 

Biblically its all over the place and it starts with Genesis of how we have been given an opportunity to enjoy all of God’s creation but the choices of Adam and Eve produced a consequence of shame and hiding, along with painful labor of child birth for women and painful lifelong labor until we return to dust for men. 

Again, the consequence of The Fall is shame and hiding. 

During the time that man labored they developed skills that reflected their individual & unique God-given design, as well as, how Gods Spirit came upon man for gifts of craftsmanship to be used in acts of service or in temples to reflect the glory of God. 

Jesus was a carpenter that expressed his divine dignity along with knowledge, wisdom and understanding that came from specializing in the art and craft of building with woo...

I am surprised at how many people I coach and mentor that do not know how to communicate what is important to them. 

If you do NOT communicate what is important to you based on ‘its no big deal’ or based on how uncomfortable it makes you feel (shortness of breath or anxiety) - over time, you can fester in this and it accumulates to bitterness and one day you can snap and say or do something you will regret. Suppression is a leading cause of sickness that shows up one way or another physically, mentally and spiritually. 

Men….you are supposed to communicate - in a heathy way - of what you value and know is of importance to you, your family, friends, community and church life. 

This is not a male/female thing - it is a human thing. 

Why you are not setting boundaries now is because you have not been taught how to do so. This is not a sign of being weak or that it is not your deal. 

It is. 

When you do not lead with setting boundaries you become a victim of your circumstances.
Read...

What opens the door to freedom?

When we combine learning about freedom along with what is restricting us in forms of what I call bondage (in opposition to freedom) we will gain more understanding in knowing what to trust and walk along side with God. 

Part of our journey with The Freedom Response is becoming men of understanding and we gain understanding by both realizing what freedom is and also by what restricts freedom that can keep one in bondage. 

Forgiveness - vs, resentment, bitterness, inability to extend grace and mercy. Are you waiting for someone to apologize to you? If you are, then you are restricting Gods grace and mercy in your own life that turns to a bondage of resentment, bitterness and inability to extend grace and mercy to yourself and others. You need it first in your own heart to know how that feels, or to have an understanding of what God has done for you to live in freedom AND to know in your soul that others need it as well and it is reflected back to others...

What are spiritual disciplines? And, which ones impacted me the most? 

Spiritual disciplines are methods and principles that we practice to engage with God in ways that are outside of our normal comforts - for reasons that change our character over time - to be more Christ-like. 

Most followers of Jesus will start with reading their Bible. There are many ways to learn about God through Bible studies and learning about theology - and over time you build a desire to BE with God and WALK with God outside of reading and learning. 

From reading Scripture most will shift over to talking to God outside of rote prayers that you learn as a child or at the dinner table. Talking to Jesus in ways that you would have loved to talk to your earthly father you can do so with your Heavenly Father. This is very personal and life-giving. 

Inside churches you start the service with worship music and that is one way to worship God in a building with other like-minded people who love Jesus. 

Worship ou...

Experiences are what is memorable and The Freedom Response is about creating  meaningful experiences alone or with another person.

Here is a list of areas that I found to have the most impact along with some ideas of what to do:

Nature - nothing cleanses and refreshes the soul and spirit more than being in Gods creation. Going for a walk or a hike and take a back pack for a brief stop or implement some of the other ideas below. Getting a nice set of binoculars or taking a camera to document wild life creates a memorable experience. Nothing beats expanding your perspective more than being outside and seeing all of what God has created for us. 

Art - learning new skills that help you embrace mistakes, learn that mistakes can create a new moment and to create muscle memory. Developing a ‘practice’ with a new medium expands perspective. Ask me at anytime…I usually have a journal, a planner and a sketchbook - all in one leather binder - with me to write, plan and do some form of drawin...

Part 1 is HERE

Part two: my story - the foundation of The Freedom Response. 

The primary goal of The Freedom Response is Matt 22:37-39 - To love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul & strength- and to love your neighbor as yourself.

We want to look at each of those areas (heart, mind, soul & strength) in a unique way of staying in Gods word, personal experience, along with reflection and application.

The first manuscript is called Deep Waters and is based on Proverbs 20:5 of which is: “The purpose of a mans heart is like deep waters and it takes a man of understanding to draw it out”. 

This implies that you dear reader along with the Holy Spirit have the ability to draw out understanding for what you are walking through with God - and if you are incapable of doing so alone - we look to a man with understanding to help you out. The Holy Spirit is THE Intimate Counselor and will aid us in our journey to live out Matt 22:37-39 and also in other ways as well. 

Deep Wa...

My story - an introduction to The Freedom Response. 

I felt like I lost my soul somewhere. See how you can relate to this through sharing my story with you. 

I wanted to understand the greatest commandment section of Matt 22:37-39 - to love God with all my heart, mind, strength and soul….I had a question: what is the soul?

I had an understanding of my heart, mind and strength- but not my soul. 

No-one else I met with had an understanding from when I asked them about it either. 

What is your soul? Do you have an understanding of it? 

I had a partial understanding of this through what God previously had me going through as a form of preparation. I bet you have experienced this as well to your own extent. 

I believe the Holy Spirit is five steps ahead of us and is inviting us INTO what God is already doing. I want to explore this a bit with you. 

I am being prepared for something that I do not know of yet - and it has already started out - with reflection - in ways I was not expec...

Character development is more important than achieving the end result...the goal.

Allow me to explain and see where you are with what I present for your consideration:

I have learned to document my days not with endless lists and random quotes, but in a way that reflects my values, vision and goals, and when these principles are taken daily they contribute to the development of my character regardless of what outcome happens. 

This is what is unique for helping others with The Freedom Response….character development. 

Over time as a new story is written, who I am becoming is what I share with those in my community and circles that are interested in progress and living out your God-Given Design.

Your God-Given Design is about character development more so than a goal - because God can remove an outcome, you can lose interest in an outcome or the outcome can change but who you are becoming is more important than any outcome that you can achieve. 

How to start? 

1- Take ...