The 318 Project

What determines the value of an item?

Does the item have cracks, dents or flaws?
Two people may look at the same object and see the same issues, but while one feels this makes it worthless another may embrace the uniqueness and feel it is worth more than it was originally.

D to you see yourself or feel others see you as "JUNK"?

There are examples in the Bible of men that either felt this way or others felt that way about them.
Judges 6:11-23 - God calls Gideon
1 Samuel 16:1-13 - Samuel anoints David as King

Collecting Baseball card as kid growing up and how the value of cards have changed over the years.

Auctions:

•  People bid on items based on the appraised value and what they are willing to pay for it.
• Ebay- people post items they wish to sell and you can either buy the item at the listed price, make an offer for what you feel it is worth, or bid on the item with others, like an auction, to see who wins the item to purchase.
• Sudden Death - a set time limit, no added time or delays to allow other bids to be placed, that the last bid in wins. 

Art of Kintsugi:
Dr. Doug Stringer wrote and article about the "Art of Kintsugi".  He explains that in Japan when someone breaks a cup or dish, they don't throw it away but take it to a craftsman that repairs the broken item. The art of Kintsugi is to use gold or silver to fill in the cracks. Over time the item may be repaired several times and have a very unique design that makes it more valuable now that when it was originally created.

"The Art of Kintsugi is the ability to see value in brokenness." - Dr. Doug Stringer

Sudden death moment when Satan thought he had Jesus and mankind defeated when Jesus went to the Cross; but Jesus had the final maximum bid that Satan couldn't match when He said "IT IS FINISHED!"

Ephesians 2:10 - His Workmanship (Masterpiece)

Music:
Broken Clouds by Tellsonic
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/46Avw5ERiS/

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Go The Distance:

• 1 Kings 19:1-8 - Elijah flees to Horeb
• Verse 9-18 - God appears to Elijah
  • Vs. 13- when Elijah heard God whisper to him, he hid his face in his cloak(mantle).
• Elijah meets Elisha.  Elijah throws his cloak on Elisha. 
• The very things we use as a security blanket/coping device to hide behind, God can use as a vessel for power and authority to strengthen and courage others. Mentorship/discipleship. 
• Elisha slaughtered the oxen and burned the plow to cook the meat to give to the people. His decision to go the distance at all cost. No turning back.

BURN THE SHIPS

• In 1519, Hernan Cortez arrived in Mexico. He told the 600 men and over 100 sailors to burn the 11 ships. Many had plotted to take some of the ships and flee to Cuba.  This sent a message that there was no turning back. 
  • This phrase, burn the ships, is to mean that you are fully committed to a cause, purpose or goal. This demonstrated that it is better to show a commitment of moving forward than to stop and hesitate
  • By destroying the ships, Cortez ensured his crew would be motivated, dedicated and willing to work together for a purpose.
• 2 Kings 2:1-10 Elijah tells Elisha that he will be taken up to Heaven. 
• Elijah then takes his cloak, the same one that he had hid his face in when the Lord appeared to him on Mount Horeb, rolls it up and strikes the Jordan with it. They cross over on dry ground.

Take up the Mantle

• In the Bible, the double portion was always reserved for the first born male child of the family. The right of the firstborn son.
• Verse 11 says they walked and talked along the way together and when the chariot of fire came that it had to separate them.
  • This indicates that they were walking shoulder to shoulder as brothers.
  • Elisha then tore his clothes and then picked up Elijah’s cloak and struck the water and crossed back over.
• Matthew 16:13-23 - Jesus asks His disciples “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
• In John 21- Peter tells the others that he is going fishing. Going back to what he knew before he met Jesus. He didn’t burn the ships to leave any chance of being completely sold out.
• Going the Distance
  • So, what is going the distance?
    • In the Cambridge dictionary, it is defined as to manage or continue until the end of a competition.
    • Yourdictionary.com says - to have the endurance to see a difficult sustained challenge to its natural end without faltering.
    • To continue to the end, no matter how difficult.
• In the movie "Field of Dreams", Ray is following the prompting of The Voice to build a baseball field. Then it directs him to go see Terrance Mann and take him to a baseball game. At the game Ray hears the voice telling him to go the distance.
  •  As Ray takes Terry home he would tell Ray, “I wish I had your passion Ray, as misguided as it may be; it's still a passion. I used to feel that way about things.”
• In 2 Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to “Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
• Wide World of Sports” showed the Ironman Triathlon.
  • https://youtu.be/nVKqFAPdjIA?si=BJMng2mtr74EqCJf
• Going the distance requires us to press on toward the goal that God has for each of us. Not just for our own gain, but to help lead others to see their goal and potential that Christ has for them to then run the race that God has called them to pursue.

Music:
Going The Distance by Brett Gregory
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZrnVxp88bU/

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We tend to associate ourselves with a college team, pro team or any sports team that we are a fan of; but does that really identify who we are?

We see people, in today’s society, questioning their very identity. They want to be identified in so many different ways that it is no wonder our society is in turmoil and confusion; yet we know that God created 2 identifiable genders in Male and female. Does that still truly explain who each of us are?

People everywhere are struggling with that very question and we see how more and more are going to counseling and are put on medication and still they can’t find a peace with it.

I want to pose 3 questions for you to answer for yourself. You can write them down on your notepads or wherever you can.

1. What is your Title? - Pastor, deacon, teacher, coach, engineer, firefighter, chief, doctor. This is usually associated with your work or something you do.
2. What do people call you? Dad, mom, grandma, granddaddy, Pops, son, daughter, jerk, loser, dummy, idiot, explicit names, Sir, maam, jock, dead-beat or something that describes your personality or behavior.
3. Who do you see yourself as, especially spiritual traits or gifts? Prayer-warrior, mentor, comforter, Word of Knowledge, healing, prophecy, and discernment.

How does God see each of us and do we see ourselves the way that He sees Us?

So, how are we to see ourselves?

It isn’t through a title, a description from yourself or others, and it isn’t through what you have or haven’t done as a child of God.

Paul told the church in Ephesians 2:10 that, “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

 Ephesians 3:20 say, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”.

Song - Identity by Velvet Moon https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/XUoXHitDzJ/

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It is through God’s divine guidance that God's shows us the path that He has for each individual's life. This guidance comes from being discipled. This can be as a child and your parents teaching you the “rights and wrongs” for your actions and behavior. Or it comes from a teacher or counselor helping you learn skills for as you grow and use in life. 

As christians, we get guidance from our pastors and evangelists that bring a word from God to strengthen, encourage, correct or rebuke us. But each of us should have a close relationship with a leader or mentor that is discipling us. 

Paul wrote letters to Timothy and Titus as their mentor to strengthen them as leaders. This is what discipleship is about. 

This is evident when Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter three verses 16 & 17 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 

You know that the Word of God is inspired or God breathed and that it is useful for the training and edification of the saints. So how does each person apply this in their individual life?

There are 4 points that Paul shared with Timothy in those verses that I am going to share. Two of them are on beliefs, what we should or shouldn’t believe. The other two are on behavior, what each of us should or shouldn’t do.

1.  Teaching-These are instructions through God’s Word. God reveals His Word through His Spirit to us. 
   • 1 Corinthians  2:12-13
   • John 6:64
   • Psalms 71:17
   • Colossians 3:16
2. Rebuking-This is when God through the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sinful actions.
   • 1 Timothy 2:14
   • 1 Corinthian 15:33 
   • Proverbs 15:32
   • Romans 8 :5
   • 1 John 2:16
   • Titus 3 :3
3. Correction-This is a revealing of bad behavior that comes from conviction of those sinful actions.
   • Proverbs 15:32 
   • Proverbs 10:17 
   • Proverbs 3:11-12
   •  Proverbs 19:20
4. Righteous training. This is developing the right behavior of what God wants you to do and act. 
   • Romans 7:6
   • 1 Peter chapter 3:1
   • 1 timothy 2:14
   • Titus 2 :1
   • 1 Peter 1:15 
   • 1 Peter 3:17
   • Ephesians 5:1- 2
   • 1 Corinthians 11:1

In conclusion, I want to go back to those verses in 2 Timothy chapter 3, but this time as you read it, insert your personal name, where it says “man of God”. 

It would sound like this” All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training righteousness, so that Ryan Hare, may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Music - Egg Rollz by Jobii Baegel 
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YyZZD5KjMd/

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So often we feel it is easy to purchase that new home or car and not worry about the cost, but then the first payment comes or a costly repair and your appreciation for that item diminishes.

How about with your marriage?

Or even your relationship with God?

In this episode, I share about how God sees the true value in each of us no matter what you and I have gone through in life.

You may have that feeling that you are worthless and junk just like an old abandoned house or vehicle, but God doesn't see junk only a Masterpiece and is worthy of being a FIXER UPPER.

Scripture:
Mark 4:14-20
Matthew 25:14-30

Music: Links provided
Intro segment- Eye of the Newscaster by Out to the World
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/K4Xu4Jlesc/

Outro segment - Kid on the Move by El Flaco Collective https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/h8KuCiV7Al/

ZWOAoXeM5bRMM0dqFmQv

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The 318 Project is taking a short mid-season break.

I recently took on a new role in the Fire Department and my schedule is changing from a 24/48 schedule to a Monday-Friday routine. 

Because of this change and going through training for this position, it has left me little time to concentrate on the podcast.

The 318 Project is NOT ENDING, but simply taking a short hiatus.

New episodes will return starting on Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. Until then, I challenge you to go back to the previous episodes that you haven't heard yet or one that stood out to you  and listen to them.

Music:
So Get Ready by spring gang on epidemic sound
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wCVDLnVW3f/

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Do you remember in school when a classmate would whisper or make a noise just loud enough to get your attention while hoping that the teacher did not hear it?

Maybe you remember when your wife, an old girlfriend or even that first crush you had in school came up and whispered something sweet into your ear for only you to hear it.

How about those times when you were outside playing and it was getting dark and you heard your mom or dad yell your name so that the whole neighborhood heard it, that it was time to come home for dinner?

Do you feel like you are waiting to hear God shout your name to speak to you?

Many times when you read the Bible it would say that God spoke to someone; but was it always in an audible voice?

In this episode, I talk about the different ways God spoke to the saints in the Old and New testament.
There are other ways that God can speak to us that lets us know what He wants each of to hear.
It may be through a feeling about a situation, or when a Bible verse stands out to you at that moment.
Maybe it is another Christian brother or sister that brings a word of encouragement; or even a worship song  that lifts your spirit.
 
Scripture References:
John 10:27
1 Samuel 3:2-10
Exodus 3:1-4
Acts 9:3-7
Joshua 5:13-15
1 Kings 19:11-13

Music in this episode:
Intro - "Whisper Out" by Mica Emory https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/t2XvNhSaax/
"In the Cool of the Day" by JOYSPRING https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/1ZegjHOK1L/

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Did your parent ever tell you to "Don't throw the ball in the house"?
What Happened when you disobeyed and broke a bowl, plate, or special figurine?
Did you try to hide what you did by gluing the broken pieces back together?

More than likely after your parents found out and the ceramic ware couldn't be fixed it was thrown out in the trash.
You probably feel the same way after some of the things that have happened in your life that you are junk and that God has no need for you and just discards you.

In this episode, I share about how God can use the broken pieces of your life to create something wonderful and even more valuable that the original.

I talk about how a trip to St. Peterburg, Russia and seeing the mosaic artwork at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood reminded me of how God can use those broken pieces to make a masterpiece.

I also share about the ancient Japanese artform called "Kintsugi" and how an artist will take a broken ceramic ware and add something special to fill the cracks to make it more valuable than before.

Scriptures:
Isaiah 64:8
Jeremiah 18:4
Ephesians 2:10

To check out the music in this episode:
Introduction- "Dust till Dawn" by Dusty Decks https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/FhKgzwY2Jm/

"Broken Pieces" by Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/J5X91AXv9G/

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What does it look like to have an encourager in your life?

We all want to have people that will speak life and encouragement to us when we are going through a trial or crisis.

Does that person have a selfish or selfish agenda?

Are they looking for way to lift you up even if it means they take a back seat to your accomplishments?

Do you have a BARNABAS your life?

What was so special about Barnabas?
He is mentioned only in a few chapters in Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians and Colossians; yet he had such an impact that the majority of the New Testament was written by those he encouraged.

In this episode, I will share with you the 3 key character traits that Barnabas displayed and how we can apply those same traits in our lives to be an encouragement to others. We can also us these key areas for what to look for in a person that we are seeking as a mentor.
1. He was a good man
2. He was full of the Holy Spirit
3. He was strong in his faith

Scriptures:
Acts 4:36,37
Acts 9:27
Acts 11:24 ( 3 key character traits)
Acts 13-15
2 Timothy 4:11

Music:
Intro - It's Time by Ealot - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4XvPw1VzFE/
Train of Thought by Ealot- https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wXHX9VhnF8/

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Do you have an armorbearer? 

In the Bible, you only see an armor bearer mentioned in the Old Testament, but the same duties and responsibilities continue on even today.

An armor bearer was a young man that would carry the weapons and shield of the man he was under, much like a knight's squire that would carry the weapons into combat, but also use the shield to protect his master. Over time he would train and even be able to fight alongside the warrior or knight. 

Sometimes the armor bearer would use the shield or weapon to protect or defend the flank of his master. 

In 1 Samuel 14: 1-14 we read of Jonathan and his armor bearer defeating the Philistines. 

We see that David became Saul's armor bearer in 1 Samuel 16:21

But it isn't just about having one person, there are times you need a full garrison of brothers. 

The foundation of the 318 Project comes from Genesis 14:14. Here we see that Lot was taken captive and Abraham raised up with his 318 men and servants that were trained in his household to go and rescue Lot. 

Proverbs 17:17  says " A friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for adversity." 

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friends."

To sharpen a sword or weapon means that it has been used in a battle and has been dented, chipped and gotten dull from hitting against the enemies armor and shield. 

As an armor bearer and brother in arms that is what we are required to do for our fellow brothers. We may see their flaws, just as they see ours and through guidance and prayer allow the Holy Spirit to mend us. 

The thing is that Satan doesn't just attack us from the same direction. He may first  come at us with a frontal assault then the next time a sneak attack from behind or end tries to side swipe you or me, that is why we need brothers praying for us on all sides, almost like we are covered in a box on all six sides.

Going back to David, Over time he rose from being just a young shepherd that became King Saul’s armor bearer,  to became King David that had his mighty warriors that stood out as his elite force of mighty men that is stated in 2 Samuel 23:8-36. Many of these warriors risked their lives because they believed in King David.

He even had his army of 600 men that followed him when he was running from King Saul. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 talks about the value of a friend.. When you and I read it, we tend to associate it with marriage , but this also applies to any friendship. 

This is that unity and bond that when the enemy comes and attacks you, there is strength in numbers to overcome and defeat Satan.

So as I am coming to a close, my challenge to you is to start praying about and looking for those brothers that you can unite with that will be your band of brothers, but also that you can be theirs also. It isn’t just to say that you have a brother by your side, but to also know that they won’t abandon you in times of trouble. I want to encourage you to really search for that man that will be a mentor and brother in your life, but to also look for those men that you can be a mentor and brother to help encourage them.

Music from Epidemic Sound:
song during Intro: Choirs of War by Dream Cave- https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/FR6Ed05Tc0/I
song - The Gallant Squire by Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/8nGHn5OQSj/
Anvil sound effect -https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ysH73yQcGi/

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