Fourthstream

FINDING OUR WAY IN A DARKENING WORLD – Mog-Wog.com

Written By: Dave

We are building/adapting our MOG-WOG.com mentoring site right now – so this post will give you a flavor for where we are headed 🙂

It appears that one error occuring around us right now is a complete mis-understanding of identity regarding men and women. We have allowed our historic worst attributes and short-comings fuel a new identity paradigm – apart from a consideration of Design and original intent.

Instead of seeing men and women created with equal value before God, we are filling our souls with distorted corrective strategies. And now we are passing on this un-anchored mess to increasingly confused generations. And our leaders and philosophers are not only of no help – they are fueling decay at an alarming rate.

Our city has been blessed with certain men and women who reflect the qualities of what the Bible would call “olders” who have a heart to see faithful, available, and teachable young men and women engage our King and His Kingdom. This video briefly explains what older and younger men and women can do to encourage one another in becoming all God meant for us to be – and in so doing – finding our true selves.

We also are hosting a Man of God live event and a Woman of God live event coming up on November 15-16/save the date and invite a friend!
Here is the info/invitation on the Man of God event on October 25-26.

Love to see you – it will be worth your time!

Dave & Burnadette Nadler

Seven Helpful Things
A Good MOG-WOG Song
Praying for Spiritual Rain

BOOK BY BOOK #41: Proverbs 16-31

Written By: Dave

The book of Proverbs is a series of clean and clear contrasts. Good and evil. Destruction and life-giving. Wise and stupid. Devoted and half or hard-hearted. As you process the word pictures for yourself, remember that God is always weighing – everything. Not so much just to hold people accountable, but because He is a God of just weights and balances. What we can know for sure is that when all things are made new, all things will become right. I am counting on it!

As a mom or dad Proverbs forms a great backdrop to prepare our children in practical wisdom, that if practiced, will “deliver you from the hand of the trapper.” It is simply the final authority on “the talk.” God has every base covered – regarding what He wants and what will set us free – or bring us into bondage. Become an expert – and bravely pass it on!

GOD 360: A Kingdom Worshipper

Written By: Dave

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Last time we talked about God 360 – how do we open every part of our life to an already present Father.

Today we consider the ways we can engage God 360 by experiencing Kingdom community. Ephesians 5 gets to the core of what defines Kingdom gathering. It is not so much about place as it is about what happens AS we gather. It defines the outcomes of true community rather than merely prescribing the “how to’s.” And it feeds imagination as we process our God encounters and share them as gifts for and with one another.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” – Ephesians 5.15-21

It is important to translate these principles and actions into our own century and culture. We like to think we are becoming so much more sophisticated, but an honest look at history and humanity make it pretty clear that there is “nothing new under the sun.” What does each underlined phrase above look like in your world?

Let Me Count the Ways
A Good God 360 Song

BOOK BY BOOK #40: Proverbs 1-15

Written By: Dave

Our Search for Wisdom

The next several weeks we will engage Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. This will be placed against the backdrop of Solomon’s life in 1 Kings 1-16, and help provide keys to experiencing a life filled with God’s wisdom – or not. This is a great opportunity to review and/or select some of your favorite principles of wisdom you have found helpful in establishing your spiritual journey.

This is really instructive about true wisdom:
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
– 1 Corinthians 1.18-25

You may also want to consider this as you read the first 15 chapters of Proverbs:
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3.17-18 I like how the Message translates verse 18: “You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” Wow.

Deeper in Proverbs

GOD 360: A Living Sacrifice

Written By: Dave

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Today Burnadette and I embrace the tricky prospect of living our lives in lock-step with God. This is a lofty goal, and requires a huge amount of intentionality. And what is our motivation? Well, like you, we want to hear the words “well done” when we stand before our Creator and King.

There is no greater concept in God’s lexicon than SACRIFICE. In fact, it appears sacrifice is what He had in mind before the world was even created. Amazing. “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” – 1 Peter 1.17-21

A living sacrifice…hmmmm.
Peace upon your soul today my friend!

Living Sacrifices
Warrior Song
How Can I Follow Your Voice?