Category: Determination

Some Bridges Are Better Off Burned

R. Mangold

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [I Cor. 10:13]

We’ve all heard the adage, “Don’t burn any bridges.” Good advice if you want to leave the channels open to perhaps return to some ONE, some PLACE, or some THING. But, when it comes to our past, sometimes burning bridges is absolutely necessary. Those times when the bridge has brought you to a place in God and there’s no turning back are for one-time use only to get you through your trial or test. It was a way of “escape” to endure your temptation, trial, or test, [I Cor. 10:13] but it’s only a one-way ticket.

God immediately caused the Red Sea to fold back on the Egyptians after Israel’s safe passage. Israel’s enemies, their former way of life, and the shame of slavery were literally washed away forever! What God used to bring Israel out, He also used to destroy their enemies! That proverbial “bridge” was better off burned!

Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God [Luke 9:62].” There’s no turning back in God. There’s no second-guessing. God is calling you to move forward, put the past to rest, and let that bridge burn!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Spider

R. Mangold

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants…26 The conies…27 The locusts…28 The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. (Proverbs 30:24 – 28)

Afraid of them or not, spiders are found virtually everywhere. The artistry of her web is a microscopic engineering marvel, with intricately woven designs it’s a fusion of both form and function. A well spun web provides her inconspicuous hiding places, well out of the reach of would-be “smooshers!”

Her wisdom lies not in the teamwork of the ant or locust, nor in the ability to scurry to safety like the rabbit. Hers is the ability to “take hold” when others let go, gaining her V.I.P. access to royal palaces! The spider’s web “connects” her to her food, her nest, and to a secure structure. As Christians, our survival depends on our ability to “connect” our spiritual food, God’s Word, to our nest or family life, and “taking hold” to a secure structure, God’s Church. The spider’s web connects her to higher heights, so too will our ability to “connect” enable us to sit “together in heavenly places” in Christ (Eph. 2:6).

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Mission "Ant-possible 3" – The Power of a Team

R. Mangold

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. Proverbs 30:24-25

Despite Proverbs stating the ant isn’t a strong creature, it is able to lift 20-50 times greater than their own weight all done with their mouth muscles. If a 175 lb. man could lift this weight with his mouth it would be nearly 8800 lbs.

Alone, an ant could accomplish very little, but multiply their efforts by millions; you have a true force to be reckoned with. And, if the weight of all the ants in the world were combined, their weight would be greater than the weight of all the humans.

God’s multiplication is even better; 1 can put 1000 to flight; 2 can put 10,000 to flight! Jesus had a team of 12 and empowered them to evangelize the entire world. If you’re a Christian reading this, Jesus’ team set the gold standard for effectiveness. Let’s continue building the team Jesus started over 2000 years ago. Our work, like the ants’ is never done. Let’s colonize the place Jesus is preparing for all of us – Heaven!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold


Mission "Ant-possible 2" – The Power to Rebuild

R. Mangold

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. Proverbs 30:24-25

As children we were amazed at the speed with which ants rebuilt after we maliciously spread the tiny grains of sand that comprised their homes. Without fail like tiny machines the ants would return to rebuild their mounds.

Ants aren’t a strong “people,” but what they lack in strength, they make up for in wisdom and tenacity. They show no visible signs of complaining. They just keep their heads down, roll up their sleeves and get to the business of rebuilding.

We’re going to have setbacks in life; emotional, financial, spiritual or otherwise. One may argue, the ant knows no better, that’s what their created to do. I would argue we do know better, and have a God who’s willing to help us rebuild saying, “cast all your cares upon me, because I care for you.”

Remember a just man falls seven times, and rises up again. Next time the devil kicks over your world consider the wisdom of the ant and her ability to rebuild…setback after setback!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold


Mission "Ant-possible!"

R. Mangold

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Proverbs 6:6

Solomon was contrasting the sluggard with the industrious ant, but as Christians, what’s our take-home message? Have we become like Aesop’s lazy grasshopper, basking in the temporary pleasures of this world, flitting from one blade of grass to another seeking enjoyment and pleasure? Or, are we like the laser-sharp-focused ant who never forgets she’s on “Mission from God?” We’ve been commanded to go into all the world preaching the Gospel of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection. An ant builds a colony, numbering in some cases in the millions. Let’s make God’s Mission, our mission. Let’s work the harvest while it is day, and colonize for the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

A Friend Named "Failure"

R. Mangold

II Cor. 12:9 – And he said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • If Failure exposes our weakness…
  • If Failure removes the veneer of pride and selfishness…
  • If Failure causes God’s strength to be perfected in us…
  • If Failure draws us closer to God…

Then Failure is our friend!

These famous people defined their failure as…

  • “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”– Henry Ford

  • “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”– Thomas Edison

  • “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.”– Mary Pickford

  • “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

The Unrelenting Rizpah

R. Mangold

To no fault of their own, Rizpah’s 2 sons were hanged; their bodies left to feed the wild beasts. Parents, if you’re facing the trauma of a child who’s ravaged by the repercussions  of sin, take Rizpah’s tenacity to heart! At great peril to herself, this courageous mother stood guard over her sons’ corpses. God is merciful and not willing that any perish, but calls us to repent. Where’s there’s life, there’s hope! Others may give up on your child, and believe all hope is lost, but praying parents can fend off any attack from the enemy of their souls. NO ONE can pray for your child like YOU CAN Mom and Dad!

Scripture: And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 2 Sam. 21:10

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

God's Heartbeat

R. Mangold

Tonight, as we sat at supper with Jesus, tensions ran high. I had this compelling urge to stay as close to Him as I could. Perhaps to the envy of the other 11, I laid my head on Jesus’ chest. Within our Messiah, God robed in flesh, I felt the beat a human heart! Yet, it beat with much more authority than mine; there was a pure resolve as if He were on a mission to save the whole world. Bold and resolute, His heart beat with compassionate overtures of mercy and love. My heart’s desire is for HIS heartbeat to become mine, HIS passion, my passion, and HIS mission, my mission. John – The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

NOTE: Of course I paraphrased here, but I’m fascinated by the notion that John actually laid his head against Jesus’ chest. What a powerful portrait, to be that close to feel Christ’s heartbeat. Is it any wonder John’s called the “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved?”

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold