Holy Spirit

Called Versus Transformed: Peter’s Life As A Modern Example Of Faith

Dr. Scott Silverii Dr. Scott Silverii , , , , , , , ,

A few weeks ago I posted a question at Bricker Breakers about when we first came to know Christ. Many Brothers, including myself, testified to accepting Jesus at one point, but truly coming to serve Him later in life.

That was always something I worried about. Was I not saved when I knew I was saved? Was there something else or more that I did or didn’t do? How could I be saved, yet continue to sin?

Then I began to pray about Peter. I like him and I think most of us do because he’s a lot like us. Peter was called by Jesus just as we were, but although he was called and followed, he still fell short of where we think we should be once we come to Christ

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Matthew 4:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

He jumped out of the boat, but sank, he fell asleep while Jesus prayed in the garden, and although he swore he wouldn’t, Peter denied Christ 3 times before he fled from Him.

Peter still clung to many carnal practices such as pride and arrogance despite being in the presence of Christ.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

Matthew 26:40

This isn’t a knock on Peter, and it’s not a knock on us, but there is a distinct difference between Peter’s life of following and his life of service.

The difference was being called versus being transformed. In many ways we are very similar to Peter. Holding onto a boastful spirit without humility, experiencing what it means to be broken and still redeemed, and finally growing bold in Christ through the Holy Spirit’s transformational power.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

It was once the Holy Spirit fell upon him, that Peter was spiritually transformed from a follower to a faithful believer and image bearer of God.

God featured Peter for a purpose. I feel like the purpose was because so many of us guys go through similar called / transformed experiences.

It’s no longer something I worry about or question, but it did resurface on those days so many of us were sharing our experiences. I knew the devil was whispering doubts in my ear, but thanks be to God, that He whispered the truth.

Much Love / Much Respect,
Scott

Called Versus Transformed: Peter’s Life As A Modern Example Of Faith

Why Brick Breakers?

Image Dr. Scott Silverii Brick Breakers , , , , , ,

The Facebook post started it all. I felt God had given me the clear vision for a men’s outreach. He also provided the name, Brick Breakers. I quickly posted to explain why the name. The post went and continues to gain new brothers in Christ to the outreach.

The active post link is above, and the words in the post are also posted below. I’d appreciate you liking our community on Facebook and sharing it with your church and brothers in need.

Lead from the front,♥

Scott

Why Brick Breakers?

Joshua 6:1-27 is the story of Jericho. I think most men like this because the city’s walls come crashing down. It’s a powerful testimony and naturally seems like something men would enjoy doing. We do love smashing things as well as rebuilding them.

The truth is that no man had a hand in physically bringing the impenetrable walls to the ground. It was God’s plan and man’s obedience to His will that allowed the stunning visual.

This, like many of you, is my story. I spent years raging against my own walls of discipline, obedience and surrender. Never once did they come tumbling down, Instead, they thickened and grew taller around my heart.

It was God’s plan for me to wait on Him and His instruction, that eventually destroyed those internal, spiritual walls. But while I celebrated the salvation victory, I was caught off guard when those walls returned.

I came to understand I must break my bricks daily to prevent the walling off of emotions, empathy and love for others.

It doesn’t mean that I’m resistant or disobedient, but that I must lean on God daily to sustain me. This has taught me to believe even when I doubt, and to trust even when I’m concerned.

It’s why I knew the name, Brick Breakers was perfect for this outreach. If you’ll be honest with yourself, I know you’ll see bricks in your life that pile up quickly unless they’re broken on a daily basis.

Because you’ve got bricks doesn’t mean you’re out of God’s will. it means because you’re trusting God that He allows you to see those obstacles standing between you and God’s intended glory.

Share this site with your Brothers. Grab your spiritual prayer hammer, and start smashing.

Scott Silverii

FIT@50 \ week 14

Dr. Scott Silverii FIT@50 , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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FIT@50 \ week 14

Balance

Thursday night at a family birthday supper my niece said how odd it looked to see a wedding ring on my hand. I said it throws me off balance. Then I thought about what I said.

There’s a weight associated with this ring. It’s called balance.

To shift from decades of doing what I wanted, when I wanted to coordinating daily calendars for meeting the needs of the family took balance. Shifting gears from an “I want” to “We need” has been easier than I would’ve led Liliana Hart​ to believe (don’t tell her though.)

Balance is the key.

The day after the wedding, we both returned to our regular Monday schedules. There was work to be done after all. Our pastor (who said being tagged in one of our post was a never ending series of alerts) talked about celebrating marriage and carving out the time to honor it.

This week we unplugged and headed out of town for the weekend. It rained, so the pool, the beach and the outdoors we both enjoy were taken off the table. Instead, we goofed off, avoided talking about work or business and never once cautioned the other about eating dessert for breakfast.

Balance is what we found.

FIT@50 \ week 5

Dr. Scott Silverii FIT@50 , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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FIT@50 \ week 5

Legacy Building

Talking with a newly promoted commander I encouraged him to consider how he wanted to be remembered. “Think about building your legacy today,” I said, “not on your deathbed.”

He leapt to his feet and shared a movie scene he felt applied. Warring kings agreed to have their respective champions fight in their place. King A calls a giant, menacing soldier. King B calls a guy—who’d decided to sleep in that morning.

An apprentice was dispatched to retrieve him. The frightened boy told of King A’s mighty champion and confessed he’d be afraid to fight the giant.

King B’s warrior looked at the naïve and said, “That’s why no one will ever remember your name.”

Achilles entered the arena to slay King A’s giant. While today we associate the name with a tendon, in fact Achilles is remembered as the greatest warrior of Homer’s Iliad.

Looking at this picture from earlier in the month, I see warriors in various stages of battle. All have faced giants and insurmountable opponents regardless the years served. Each will be remembered for taking a stand on the side of human justice. And that’s an honorable legacy.

Do good,
Scott

FIT@50 \ week 3

Dr. Scott Silverii FIT@50 , , , , , , , , , ,

empathy

FIT@50 \ week 3

Empathy: It’s okay to care.

No matter how “fit” I’ve become, minding my own business has always been my business. During the many years in special operations my job was to know other’s secrets. I was good at my job.

Knowing the darkest moments in another person’s life is a cross of confidentiality I understood I’d carry to my grave. Over the years it might have even caused me to construct a wall around my empathetic understanding.

During a church service I looked around and saw people. I mean really saw people. I began to sense their hurt, their grief and their concerns. My immediate reaction was to mind my own business.

The difference was God placed them on my heart. They’d become my business. Without knowing their names or their “secrets,” I sensed connections with them. I began to pray for people I knew only by God placing their situations on my heart.

I didn’t have to get in their business and for certain sake, didn’t spread their business. I simply asked God to handle their business—Empathy.

Do good,

Scott

The basis for a right relationship

Dr. Scott Silverii Chaplain Ronnie Melancon , , , , , , , , , ,
Chaplain Ronnie Melancon
Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

In my years of ministry, I have been with numerous people as they left this life to enter into eternity. None have called for their accountant or their bankbooks. They only call for their family members, friends, and their God.

At the end of life we all realize the only thing that really matters is our relationships. Ultimately, the most important is the relationship we have with our God.

God created a special garden He called Eden, and placed the first man Adam in it to take care of it (Genesis 2:15). The Garden of Eden literally means in Hebrew the Garden of Pleasure. The Prophet Ezekiel called it The Garden of God (Ezekiel 28:13). Our right purpose is to bring God pleasure, and unless we are doing this we are not really fulfilled in life. We properly exist to be a God-Pleaser.

There are three types of pleasers in the world:

  1. The Self-Pleaser – only cares about themselves (Can’t trust people like this)
  2. The People-Pleaser – are often brought into traps of bad situations, because they are ruled by their fear of rejection.
  3. The God-Pleaser – the person that deals with every relationship from this basis, “Is this Pleasing to God?” This is the person that lives with eternal purpose and blessing from God. It requires courage, but will ultimately keep you in the favor of God.

I challenge you to gage every relationship by this criteria, “Is it pleasing to God?”.

Lord Bless,

Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

The basis for a right relationship

 

Be an Oak

Dr. Scott Silverii Chaplain Ronnie Melancon , , , , , ,
Chaplain Ronnie Melancon
Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

It was around 1981-1982 that I decided to quit my job and pursue the full-time ministry of an Evangelist. I had been taught by my Pastor that you never make major changes without prayer and fasting. I had a wife and two children at this time (my youngest was not yet born), and making this decision was serious because it would affect their lives greatly. I had to know it was God directing me.

Amanita_muscaria_(fly_agaric)

 

I took a few days off from my job and went on a prayer and fast retreat to the Bogalusa Bible Conference. Back in those days they would let young ministers sleep in the basement to save from a Hotel bill. My mind was pretty made up, but I needed to be sure.

During a break, an elder Minister that barely knew me called me over to him. He told me, “Bro.Ronnie, a mushroom comes up over-night and is practically full grown, but it’s a mushroom. In no time it will be gone. But an oak tree takes years to grow. You go back to Thibodaux and be an oak tree.”

I knew immediately the Lord was answering my question. It was not His will for me to travel around this nation Evangelizing at this time. I listened, but I must admit somewhat reluctantly.

I have Pastored now for many years here in my hometown. I am a blessed man and all my children and their families are in church serving the Lord with my wife and I. I am convinced that my pursuit for His perfect will has blessed our lives.

I encourage you to seek God in your decisions of life. Don’t be hasty and wind up a mushroom. Pursue God’s will for you, accept it, and be an Oak.

Lord Bless,

Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

 

Be an Oak – By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon