Common Ground

By Jacob Christopher Simmons

Common Ground is the second release from Christian author Jacob Christopher Simmons, joinmovement.org and RAP Books. When God doesn't answer a prayer the way you want and when you want, it doesn't mean it wasn't heard and it doesn't necessarily mean the answer is "no." Giving you what you asked for just may not be in your best interest right now or the timing may be off. We see today tactically, but God sees tomorrow strategically. In military terms, He has the high ground and sees over the horizon. He knows what's behind the door and what’s waiting around the corner. When He seems to be standing in the way or when He seems to be opposing you, it might just be at that moment His favor is upon you and purposely keeping you out of harm’s way. A little inconvenience could be the answer to your last prayer. Remember when you prayed, “Protect me Lord, cover me Father, please keep me and mine safe oh God...“ Well, He heard you. Praise God for answered prayer!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781631926983

Book preview

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Proverbs 4

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be hampered; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Introduction

∞Eco-Man∞

An ecosystem is a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. The system fundamentally influences and is influenced by its environment. The environment is the aggregate of conditions and influences; in short, surroundings. Just as man is a part of the world around him, the world around him is a part of him. Your surroundings form your own ecosystem; making you an Eco-Man.

Ecology constitutes all the external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time such as the air, water, minerals, and other organisms. Everything works together in a fragile balance of symbiotic relationship and reliance. Seven characteristics make up the Eco-Man’s ecology: Constants, Conditions, Core, Circumference, Choices, Convictions and Consequences.

(Ω) Constants are those things that will never change. They establish the boundaries of a system. For example, math and physics are static quantities generally believed to be universal and unchanging constants. A constant is a fixed point. The North Star, Polaris, is famous for holding a position nearly still in our sky while the entire northern sky moves around it. That’s because, from our perspective, it’s located nearly at the north celestial pole, the point around which the entire northern sky turns. Polaris marks the way due north. Travelers have trusted in and navigated for centuries by this single point of reference. An Eco-man has a compass that points due north as well, but the fixed star is not light years away, it is a still small voice inside pointing toward Christ.

(→) Conditions are the state, shape, or order of something; the circumstances affecting the way in which people live or work. They are things that change, and change often. They may or may not be predictable. Conditions may have a significant influence on or determine an outcome. In mathematical terms, a condition is the if/then in the equation. Every day you calculate what you will do and which way you will go considering the if/then. It’s the element of logic and reasoning. You’ve often heard someone say, It’s conditional, meaning it depends on a set of variables. You understand that you have some control, but not full control. As an Eco-Man, you have been given the gift of free will, but you live in a fallen world. Those are the conditions. Christ came to provide the if/then in the equation; …that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life… Remember, math is a constant—there’s only one answer and it doesn’t change.

(ab) The Core is the center. It is the point in which everything else revolves, the center of mass, and the touch point for balance. The core is the most important part of something. It’s the heart of the matter and the determined values. In geology, it’s what holds our world together and in botany it’s where the seeds of a fruit are found. In the business world, it’s called a mission statement. At the core of a theology is its doctrine. While your physical core is incorporated in almost every movement of your human body, it’s your spiritual core that is the basis for how you