I have taken on the courageous resolution!

For any Christians who read this blog every month (appox 285 people read this blog!) You may have seen last years movie courageous. I absolutely love the film, and first watched it 6 months ago when it came out on DVD. It really inspired me the first time round. But I have to admit that I didn't have the faith to follow the resolution at that time. My faith tends to waiver every now and again, largely due to sin, and how I can become weak to it. How can I pursue justice and love mercy when I am an unjust and unmerciful person myself?
I don't know what has happened over the past six months but my faith is strong and I know that through God I can overcome sin. It isn't perfect but it is there! The last few days my resolve has been higher than ever. I have been reading proverbs in my NEB, and despite the use of words like folly and churl, The proverbs have helped me a lot. I watched fireproof two nights ago, and last night courageous.

Both films are amazing, I'm sure the makers would not mind you downloading them, if they do then you can always amazon them. They are average price for DVDs. If you have US Netflix they may be on there.

The film essentially resolves the question, "where have all the men gone", its an answer I have known since I became a Christian, God makes a man! No matter what stereotypes you see in movies, they are not men. They exhibit animalistic, sub-human masculinity, but are not men.

To not give spoilers, something happens which causes a group of men to wonder what it means to be a true father, and a real man. There is research done which draws entirely from scripture, and I believe instead of simply showing what it is to be a father, shows what it means to be a man, a real man. I am not YET a father, but one day I will be, and I don't want to be "caught asleep at the wheel" (quote from the film) and realise that I had the chance to be prepared for fatherhood simply by being a man, the man that God wants me to be.

The resolution is simple, so simple that one has to wonder how we forgot these things. I was wondering this last night after I rewatched the film, fathers abandoning their children for other women - or men. Children brought up in broken homes, it came when we abandoned God.

But it isn't all about faith and religion but about men standing up, taking it upon themselves to call out the men in themselves and inspiring their sons. Same with mothers and daughters. Its no good propping your little ones in front of the TV. TV really does influence young minds, they will end up rebelling! That's what they want. You do that and the state will own your childs mind -for life.

I decided that the best thing I could ever do is take on this resolution, its not an oath or swearing by heaven. But a declaration of intent. An oath is something that you have to do in order to progress, where you swear that you will tell the truth, or swear an oath to the scouts in order to join. There's no obligation here, you choose to do this because you have thought this over and want accountability for your actions. But if you fail God won't condemn you. Its something that you have resolved to do (hence resolution not oath). Some will fail, some won't.

I was considering waiting to get a high quality resolutio, but why wait? This is as much a personal thing as anything. So I printed it out, put a smaller one in my Bible and an A4 in a frame which I signed!
Google courageous resolution pdf - its the top one.

Read through, think, pray, and decide if you have the resolve to try and be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect;

What is the resolution? Here it is:

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15