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ooh Mr Kotter, Mr Kotter

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16

Most believers know this verse and we know that it means the Bible is the Word of God and we can and should trust Scripture, but let me drop this thought on you. If Scripture is from God then it is Holy, and if it is Holy then we must treat it as Holy, that means to set it apart. We do not drop parts of Scripture here and there pasting bits and pieces like decoupage. No we must care for it and use it in it’s proper and rightful places. Some non-believers run around throwing out Scripture bombs because they do not understand it but we have an understanding and are called to treat it properly.

I have been given the privilege to share the word with some middle school boys today and I give it as much thought and prayer as I did when I spoke in the prisons, to congregations, or in weekly Bible studies because the avenue is not of importance, but the Word is of utmost importance. It does not matter if you speak to hundreds, thousands, or 1 the Word of God is mighty and the fact that you get the privilege to read it and share it is a gift from God. Do not take it lightly.

Just a thought,
Mike

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:1

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

As someone who tried to commit suicide I can tell you firsthand that you are in a dark place. Sadly dark does not even begin to describe it. Depression falls short of explaining it. We live in a society full of extremes that words and phrases once used to describe things have lost their true meaning. Everyone is now depressed because their favorite show ended, or because the ice cream is gone. We can’t just be sad or annoyed, no in order to let everyone know the level of our despair over a television show ending or our car breaking down we must be depressed and completely forlorn.

You can throw the word depression around flippantly, being depressed one day and not be depressed the next but depression is not something that easily lets you go. It does not allow you to be OK one minute and not the next. It sits there sometimes in the front of your mind sometimes in the back but always present. I cannot speak for everyone who has suffered from depression and tried to commit suicide but for me I just could not take the poking and sadness anymore.

There was this ever constant poking never shouting but always poking. “You suck, why can’t you get it right, look there again you failed, why do you even bother, they are right you know you will never amount to anything, one day people will see you for what you are, if they could see in your head they would hate you even more, you cannot win” and on and on and on….

I need to stop now because it was too much for me and I can only talk about it a little before it starts to get overwhelming again.

In short Robin Williams makes the third suicide I have heard about in one week. Everyone seems to be at least some what affected by this so I would suggest that one thing everyone can do to raise awareness about suicide is stop using so many extremes. This way when we do see/hear them they will be the signs we know to look for and not just common language drowning out the voice of those who are actually crying.

Just a thought,
Mike

I just don’t understand

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

I just don’t understand why everything is so hard.  It seems like for the past 5 years (maybe 6) everything is hard.  Finances, health, life, and everything else just seems like I am fighting and never winning.  If I start to gain victory somewhere then I loose it somewhere else.  I hate my job, I need to file bankruptcy, and deep friendships are a mystery to me.  I am not saying things never go right, but I feel like when they do it is a lie.  The only time things seem to be going well is when we were pretending everything was OK and running up the credit cards.  The problem with that is eventually that catches up to you and now our finances are worse than they have ever been.  It seems like my life is in a perpetual state of waiting.  I cannot try and find a new job that pays better because then I cannot file bankruptcy (which I do not want to do by the way), however I cannot save the money to file without more money so I wait.  I am just rambling at this point.  I am just so tired.  I have no ambition, no motivation, and no dream.  I just want something to give.  

On the note of waiting I no longer even know what I am waiting for.  I just feel like I am waiting….  In case you are wondering that sucks.  I spend each day waiting for it to end so I can wake up and wait for that day to end.

I am working on a project for a business that might be great the problem is I do not want to do it, but it is what I know so I do it, but there is no joy or desire there for me.  

What the heck is going on???  I am just so tired (I am not suicidal).  I should know I have been there before and this does not feel like that.

You know what for years (10 + years) I wanted to be a pastor.  I had such a fire and love for the Word of God, I loved nothing more than sharing God’s love with people, and now I seek and pray for revelation and find none.  I look for hope and find gloom, I search for joy and find pain.  I want that fire and passion back.  I want a deep love back, I want to be back in the place where I felt like I was in Gods arms day and night. 

 

Well I am done rambling……..

Mike

How to avoid hopelessness in three easy steps

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

How to avoid hopelessness (yes this is bad advice):

First stop asking for anything.  If I really want something I find reasons I should not have it.  This works great because then you cannot be disappointed when you do not get it.  Instead of disappointment I get “contentment.”  After all the Apostle Paul said I have learned to be content in every situation.  Yes I know that when you ask for something in Jesus’s name He says He will do it, but that is if you pray according to the Fathers will and as a man I cannot possibly know the Father’s will so I should not ask in the first place.  Oh how much easier life is when you stop asking for things and just get content.  Maybe your car is dead and you are going to lose your job because you cannot get to work thats OK because you should be content in your situation.  Maybe you don’t have health insurance, and your wife needs to see a doctor.  That’s ok just be content.  That is the most important thing.

Second stop trying.  This is where it gets a little harder.  Trying is a lot like asking but this is on you.  When you ask you are trying to get someone else to help you, but trying is all on you.  So stop it.  Just realize that the chances of success are slim and there are better people out there for the job.  See doesn’t that make it better already.  You have failed before so why would you want to face that disappointment again?  Just rest.  That’s right rest.  The Bible says to rest a lot so you should do that.  Now don’t be lazy just stop trying.  God will just give you the victory if He wants you to have it (but don’t ask for it).  Just rest and know that if you try you will more than likely fail so save your energy for something else that you can do.

Third and this is the key stop desiring.  Stop desiring something better.  If you can just lower your expectations a little you will be better off.  This one takes some time, but little by little if you stop desiring a better life, job, or financial situation it will be come easier.  After all that is just coveting.  I mean we have already seen you should be content and rest so you need to stop coveting a better life.  If God wanted you to have a better life then you would have it.  If things are hard He is probably just testing you again, and again, and again.  You just need to stop.  Oh how much peace you will have when you stop desiring.  I mean don’t get me wrong if God shows up and in a big booming voice tells you something then by all means stop and pray about it for a few decades but don’t rush into anything.  The last thing you want to do is ever make a mistake.

See if you just follow my three simple steps you will have mediocrity and that is a lot like victory.  I mean do you really want to go through the heartache of failure, or the trouble of bothering someone, or your situation not improving?  Of course not who would.  So take my advice and just chill.

 

Just a bad thought,

Mike   

How to avoid hopelessness (yes this is bad advice):

 

First stop asking for anything.  If I really want something I find reasons I should not have it.  This works great because then you cannot be disapointed when you do not get it.  Instead of disappointment I get “contentment.”  After all the Apostle Paul said I have learned to be content in every situation.  Yes I know that when you ask for something in Jesus’s name He says He will do it, but that is if you pray according to the Fathers will and as a man I cannot possibly know the Father’s will so I should not ask in the first place.  Oh how much easier life is when you stop asking for things and just get content.  Maybe your car is dead and you are going to lose your job because you cannot get to work thats OK because you should be content in your situation.  Maybe you don’t have health insurance, and your wife needs to see a doctor.  That’s ok just be content.  That is the most important thing.

 

Second stop trying.  This is where it gets a little harder.  Trying is a lot like asking but this is on you.  When you ask you are trying to get someone else to help you, but trying is all on you.  So stop it.  Just realize that the chances of success are slim and there are better people out there for the job.  See doesn’t that make it better already.  You have failed before so why would you want to face that disappointment again?  Just rest.  That’s right rest.  The Bible says to rest a lot so you should do that.  Now don’t be lazy just stop trying.  God will just give you the victory if He wants you to have it (but don’t ask for it).  Just rest and know that if you try you will more than likely fail so save your energy for something else that you can do.

 

Third and this is the key stop desiring.  Stop desiring something better.  If you can just lower your expectations a little you will be better off.  This one takes some time, but little by little if you stop desiring a better life, job, or financial situation it will be come easier.  After all that is just coveting.  I mean we have already seen you should be content and rest so you need to stop coveting a better life.  If God wanted you to have a better life then you would have it.  If things are hard He is probably just testing you again, and again, and again.  You just need to stop.  Oh how much peace you will have when you stop desiring.  I mean don’t get me wrong if God shows up and in a big booming voice tells you something then by all means stop and pray about it for a few decades but don’t rush into anything.  The last thing you want to do is ever make a mistake.

 

See if you just follow my three simple steps you will have mediocrity and that is a lot like victory.  I mean do you really want to go through the heartache of failure, or the trouble of bothering someone, or your situation not improving?  Of course not who would.  So take my advice and just chill.

 

Just a bad thought,

Mike   

 

 

Grace & Truth

/ Mike Farley / 1 Comment

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  

The suffix ian means belonging to, coming from, resembling, adhering to or following, and expert in.  It can be used to form a noun or an adjective.  Add that to the word Christ and you get Christian, someone who belongs to the Christ, coming from the Christ, resembling the Christ, or adheres to the Christ.

That means like John 1:17 I should have Grace and Truth coming from me. If it comes from Jesus it should also come from me because I have Christ in me, and I am suppose to resemble Him.  If you travel abroad you will hear people talk about the American attitude.  We are loud, and proud, and have a sense of entitlement.  Before you can do anything people expect that from you.  It should be the same way with different traits of Jesus.  Do people, when they find out I am a Christian expect to have Grace and Truth come from me, and regardless of that answer do I show Grace and Truth?

To be honest yes…..sometimes.  Sometimes I am a little more Truth, and sometimes I am a little more Grace (not always in the proper ratio).  Both are great and very important but there is something about the proper mixture of Grace and Truth that makes it fantastic.  It is not baking a cake where you always use equal parts of each and you can do it without thinking.  Having Grace and Truth flow from you means thinking in each situation.  Sometimes you need a lot of Truth and enough Grace to show the love of God, but sometimes you need only a little Truth to confirm something and so much Grace that people are overwhelmed by God’s great love.

I want to be known for having Grace and Truth.  If someone says “Hey do you know Mike?” I want them to think “Grace and Truth.”  I figure if I have Christ living in me, and I am in Christ, and I have the mind of Christ,  then I should be able to do this.  I want to do this.  

Just a thought,

Mike

Think about that

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Philippians 4:8: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Oh have I got a word for you today my friends.  It is a Greek word that has many meanings that are and can be used in a variety of ways.  The word is logizomai.  In the verse above it is the word behind think.  Think as used above means to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reason, to deliberate.   That might not seem like much at first but if you look at Romans 4:8 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”  Impute here is the same word think in Philippians 4:8 logizomai.  In both these cases it is translated differently but the meaning behind it is the same count up and deliberate.

What is the point of all this?  Well I have two points.  First is think about the good things, and I mean really think about them.  Count them up and spend time thinking about them, just like you might be inclined to about the bad things.  You can’t help but think about the bad things when something is going on so you must force yourself to think about the good things.  Remember how God loves you, Jesus died and rose for you, you wife or husband loves you, your children, or what have you.  You have good things you can think about.  It doesn’t mean you ignore the bad things that need to be addressed but you do not give them the power to control the rest of your thoughts.  

Second is God does not count or weigh your sin against you.  He does not logizomai them.  Instead He sees you in Christ.  Sure there might be things that He wants to and will refine in you, but it is done from the position of love for His child.  That is pretty awesome if you ask me.  

Just a logizomai,

Mike  

Who does this guy think he is?

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Let me say that I do not know this for certain but I would imagine that Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, DL Moody, AW Tozer, and others did not have instant success in the ministry.  I would imagine there were times in the beginning where their names were not what a person wanted to see on the invitation.  Whether it be the pastor of a church, a person receiving the invitation to attend the meeting or what have you.  At the starting point their names did not bring in a crowd.  I can imagine a pastor wanting to have a revival meeting and seeing their name on the list thought to themselves “can we not find a real preacher?”  Now however (if they were all still alive) they could send a letter to almost anyone and the recipients would be elated at the possibility.  

I am not saying that I have nearly the oratory skills or Biblical knowledge of these men but I do have two things in common with them.  One is passion for lost and hurting people.  A deep longing and desire to see people come to faith in Christ, and not just those outside the church.  I long to see those that know Him come into a closer and more intimate relationship with Him.  Second is Jesus.  I serve the same Lord as they do.  You see it was not their name that got them to where they were it was His name.  

The Bible says Jesus has a name above all names, He has a place of supremacy above all else, and it is in His name that I go.  In my own name I will not go far, and right now I am nowhere (at least it feels that way) but I serve a great and mighty King.  One who does not call just to abandon.  He does not give passion without a way to live it out.  Even though it feels that way right now I know He will make good on His calling as long as I am open, willing, and obedient (and Lord knows I am trying).  

A verse that has stuck with me for about 10 years now is Numbers 23:19.  It says “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent.  Has He not said and will He not do, has He not spoken and will He not make it come to pass”  Now that is a promise if I have ever heard one.  It says that when God says it that settles it, and I love that.  I have had a few “dreams” in my life that I know where from God.  One was how He showed me I would learn.  It was and is beautiful, but it is a hard road because it bucks the conventional system.  It is a path that not many walk, and to be honest I do not always want to walk it because it is harder than the standard path.  But it is what He as for me.  So even though I cannot send letters to churches and get a response because my “name” is not what someone expects or wants to see, I do go in a “name” that is beyond what my name could ever be.

So who does this guy think he is?  He is a son of God and servant of Jesus Christ, and that is a name to be proud of.

Just a thought,

Mike

Clean out the Fridge

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

One of the many benefits of cleaning out the fridge besides regaining all of your Tupperware is that you realize where you are actually at in regards to your food supply. Leftovers while great for a day or two loose their luster after a week or two. Not only are they no longer appealing but they also cause a certain amount of deception. You think you have food in your fridge, you think you have what you need because the there is no room for anything else. The problem is you do need food but what is taking up the place of fresh food is garbage.

We do this with our lives too. We leave things in our life that do not need and should not be there. We think we have everything we need because there is no room left, but the truth is we need to clean out our lives the same we clean the fridge. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard. Whether simple or difficult the fact remains that you need to clean out your fridge. Yes it will be pretty disappointing afterwards because your life might appear to be a little empty, but the truth is that your life is not empty but ready to receive.

Your life is just like your fridge. If it is full of crap then there is no room for anything new and better. Throw out the garbage and then it will be ready to receive new and better things.

Just a quick thought,
Mike

Freedom and Truth Letter

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Hello all, I am looking for some help.  My wife and I have been wanting to do this for about 4 years but only recently have the courage.  We are planning on sending out the letter below to churches in the area but before I do I would like some feedback.  Seeing as I do not personally know any of you I feel comfortable putting this out there to you.  Any and all feedback is appreciated.

***

First I want to say thank you for taking the time to read our letter.  I will be as succinct as possible.  My wife and I are new to the area and are looking for opportunities to share our passion for the hurting.

A little background might help.  I starting cutting myself and using drugs in my early to mid teens.  I cannot say I remember exactly when as I have either blacked out or lost a lot of those memories.  I grew up in a very broken home, and my relationship with my mother and stepfather has always been on shaky ground.  There was no one I could talk to and those I should have talked to were clear they did not have time for me.  That was part of the reason I choose to retreat into myself.  I continued this path of self destruction until I was 22.  At that point I was at the height of my depression.  I was recently divorced, abusing pain pills, drinking heavily, smoking pot, and cutting myself regularly.  One night I choose to end it all.  I took my remaining sedatives and woke up sometime later in the ER.  I was so confused, and scared.  I spent some time in a crises house to ensure I was no longer a threat to myself.

A few months later I had been bouncing around between a few different friends houses and found myself feeling more lost than ever.  I started asking my friend Julie questions about God, because she grew up a Pastor’s Kid so I assumed she would have every answer.  What she told me was I needed to have faith.  I had no idea what that meant but she just kept telling me I needed to believe in Jesus.  I could not seem to wrap my head around this but I could also not let it go.  One day while doing the dishes I caught my reflection in the window and found myself being very sorry.  I prayed and told Jesus that I had ruined my life and if He could do better with it than it was His.

He took me up on my offer and took away my desire to cut and do drugs right away.  Those desires have tried to creep over the years and I give all the credit to God for saving me and pushing them away.  The past decade has been a whirlwind of change.  God has done so many amazing things in our lives since then.  We were active in the church in Maine with the Youth and Young Adults, and I was on rotation for Sunday service at the correctional facility in Windham, ME.  

We firmly believe Jesus put a passion on our hearts for the hurting.  Those who struggle with pain, rejection, and self injury.  We find no greater joy than seeing people find rest in Christ.  Seeing how he can and does transform lives gives us a fullness that we cannot find outside of Him.  

For Julie it was as we started to see more and more teens struggle with these issues she saw how deeply it affected her. More and more teens would open up and share their hearts and struggles and as she listened and cried with and prayed for these young people God put a burden on her heart to just be there. Many times kids would pull her aside just to share and pray with her.  Her heart was both broken by these teens for where they were but also realizing though what God has done in my life to know that there can be victory. That He can turn sorrow into joyfulness and brokenness into healing.  We truly have a heart to minister to these young people anyway we can. We believe that God wants to do a great work through this generation and that once they get ahold of His truth and His love they will do great and mighty things.

Here is some information you may or may not know.  1 in 12 teenagers struggle with self injury, and roughly a tenth of those continue this into young adulthood.  This means you probably have a teen in your church who either does or has struggled with this.  You will probably never know who it is either.  You would think it would be the kid who comes from a very broken home, or wears all black clothing, or listens to certain kinds of music but that is usually not the case.  Typically they will look like every other kid, because this is not an issue of appearance it is one of pain.  They are hurting and do not want anyone to know how much they are hurting so they keep it hidden.  Self Injury is a coping mechanism and a very effective one at that.  I am not saying it is a good coping mechanism but it works for those who do it, and because of that they do not talk about it.  

So what is our point in all this?  We would love the opportunity to come and share what God has done in our lives to hopefully bring this topic out for any who are hurting this way because it is easier to say I am struggling with that after someone else shares than to out of the blue and say I cut myself.  Our hope and prayer is that the road to freedom could begin for those who currently feel alone and hopeless.