Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." 2 Cor. 2:14

Recently, a friend's example reminded me that we can triumph in any and all circumstances! I am always blessed to witness believers in Christ who choose celebration over complaining in the middle of challenge. This is not a diversion from challenge, but a proper response to it.

"Triumph" is the celebration that follows a victory. We see it all the time in arenas such as sports championships. In that setting, it would be inappropriate to celebrate BEFORE the victory because there is no spiritual reality in sports.

Our life of purpose in Christ is entirely about spiritual reality. We are governed by God’s promises though hope and faith. Celebrating before we “see” victory is our protocol because “We walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

Because of Christ, we don't have to wait to celebrate until we SEE victory, we celebrate NOW because we HAVE the victory! If you make a transaction to purchase property you have not seen with a trustworthy party, you can celebrate before you see the property.

This is reality. Remember that you are dealing a God that you have not seen, but the evidence of His reality is your life and his work in your life.

What’s more, your triumph of victory becomes a fragrant and hopeful witness to others.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

"Steward" is not the best sounding word. It is, however, one of the best things in life.  There are not many better titles or attributes than to be called "a good steward." 

What is a steward? A steward is someone entrusted to manage the property and affairs of another. We can imagine being responsible for the finances, real estate, and equipment of a friend or family member would be a humbling task. We would exercise great care and attention to detail knowing that our actions affect our friend and family more than ourselves.

Now consider that we are God's stewards. We are responsible for what He has given us.... which is EVERYTHING, including our own lives!

Paul said two things about us. 1) We are servants of Christ; 2) We are stewards of "the mysteries of Christ." 

A mystery is not something hidden, it is something revealed. The mysteries of Christ are the truths and spiritual realities that you have learned and received from the Holy Spirit. For example, the truth that we are saved by God's grace through the sacrifice of Christ and NOT by our own works is a mystery. A steward never betrays this truth.

Paul then writes, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

Faithfulness is consistency is service to God, and this is where we discover the blessing of God. Not that we have "earned" blessing through being good stewards, but that we simply live in the zone of God's favor and blessing through stewardship.

So, be a good steward!

We are thankful for the conclusion of another outstanding Media & Arts Camp!

This was our 18th year. We thank you for your support and participation. 2017 Crew Members did an outstanding job of thinking, designing, working, and producing great projects. My vision from the year 2000 of empowering young people in the media arts and moving them from consumers of media into producers continues to be fruitful. YOU are a major part of all the positive outcomes!

I appreciate the guidance and expertise of our instructors who helped Crew Members learn and develop outstanding digital media and artistic work. We enjoyed helping young men and women tap into their God-given abilities and inspiring them to use their skills to better themselves and their community.

In keeping with Media Camp Rule #9, we also had FUN doing the work and working together! We heard from AMAZING professionals in the field of media arts who came each week to present their work and talk about their fields. We also visited production and education institutions. We are grateful for their willingness to host our Crew Members and expose them to real world production.

Visit our website to see and hear amazing projects produced by youth at 2017 Multimedia In Focus Media & Arts Camp. http://visionmultimedia.org

Thank you and God Bless,

Rev. Bryan Hudson

Program Founder/Director

God designed and destined men to serve, bless, empower, and get things done through His grace. Men are designed by God to deliver and be reliable like the U.S. Postal Service. The title “Mail Men” is also used in honor of a former NBA basketball player named Karl Malone who earned the nicknamed “The Mail Man” because he “delivered” on the basketball court. He could be counted on to make needed plays when called upon.

Men of God are “mail men” in much more important ways!

A long time ago God said in the book of Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land ….”

He is saying the same thing until this day. Today we have the advantage of Jesus Christ empowering us with the Gospel! We are also blessed to provide a positive example to all people: 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV), Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

According to the text, God is looking for men and fathers to do two things: 1) Build up the wall, and 2) Stand in the gap

What is the wall?
The wall represents the moral and righteous structure and foundation that supports a blessed and fruitful life. The wall both sustains and protects inhabitants within.

Ezekiel clearly described the weaknesses of the “wall”:
22:25 There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations

These were all specific sinful actions that degraded their society and people, and ours.

What is the Gap?
The gap or breach is the space between unfinished or broken sections of a wall. This represents unfinished and broken aspects of life and community. There are a lot of males "among them," but God is looking for men to get some things done!

When men are encouraged, trained, and committed to following Christ we become motivated to fulfill our natural state of building up and meeting needs.

Listen to my Father’s Day Message, “Mail Men: Men That Deliver” and share it with others. Links below:

Firm Foundation Podcast on iTunes
Firm Foundation Podcast on Podbean

Joshua 24:15, But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Let's be clear, "going" to church is not the same as "serving" the Lord. Everybody serves something, which becomes one's "god" and religion. What Jesus said and the Bible says cannot be separated from the real experience of serving God.

Jesus did not give his life for people to have a religion, but to have a relationship with Himself and Father God. We can marginalize the people who are saying what we do not want to hear, but that does not change the truth about the living God and our accountability to Him. The "god" that does people's bidding is a figment of the imagination and the seed of deception.

The living God is who we follow, and He does not follow us and comply with everything we want to do.