This past weekend the men's group at our church held our annual "Camp Out and Critter Roast". It is a time for the men to get together, have some fun, games, relax, and build relationships; oh, and let's not forget the roasting of the pig. The most important part of the weekend is the building of relationships with one another.
God's design for men is for us to have relationships. We need friendships that go deep and allow for accountability, and the open sharing of what's going on in our lives. Throughout the Bible we find examples of such relationships: David & Johnathan, Paul & Timothy, Jesus & His disciples, and the list could go on and on. Too often, I think, we men tend to be loners. We work, spend some time with our families, and may occasionally spend time with friends - all of which are good. But how often do we get alone in small groups and really share what's going on in our lives, or just hang out with the guys in a Godly atmosphere and really get to know one another a little better? We all need this, but we have to make the time to do it. In Hebrews we are told to "...not forsake the assembling of yourselves together...to encourage one another...". I believe this applies to more than just Sunday morning at church for a few hours.
Proverbs 18:1 probably sums it up best; "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgement" and in this same chapter in the last verse, verse 24 we are told "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than brother." Guys, we have to drop the facade of the macho I can handle it by myself mentality, and allow other brothers of like precious faith into our lives for support, accountability, and protection from the temptations that we all face.
Who have you allowed into your world? Have you shown yourself to be friendly? Do you have a friend, or friends that you know you can turn to when things aren't going the way you know they should? As men we need to live our lives the way I believe God intended; having close relationships with each other so that when the enemy attacks (and he surely will) that we have someone who has our back. It's also nice to know that you have a band of brothers that can come together just to have a good time. Now go roast a pig!
Have a blessed week.
Bob
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Have YOU Placed Your Life Before God?
Romans has to be my favorite book in all the Bible. And in that book, chapter 12 is my absolute favorite. In my humble opinion, if this were the only instructions we had available from God to live by, we would all live lives that would be very pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Recently I have been reading "The Message//Remix" by Eugene Peterson and was particularly inspired by the way he translated this chapter. For those of you who may not have this book on your shelf I have copied chapter 12 for you right here, and I have italicized a few verses that really stand out to me. I hope this blesses you as much as it does me.
4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."
That pretty well says it all. It's kind of the same directions most of us received from our parents when we were growing up. And since He is our Heavenly Father I sort of think He placed this in our parent's hearts to pass on to we kids. Don't you?
So go and do good wherever you can. Be who God intended you to be and be content with knowing that He is doing a good work in you and through you. Have a very blessed week.
In Christ - Bob
"Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."
That pretty well says it all. It's kind of the same directions most of us received from our parents when we were growing up. And since He is our Heavenly Father I sort of think He placed this in our parent's hearts to pass on to we kids. Don't you?
So go and do good wherever you can. Be who God intended you to be and be content with knowing that He is doing a good work in you and through you. Have a very blessed week.
In Christ - Bob
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Friends
Donna and I had the profound pleasure of spending Friday evening, and most of my Saturday with some of our very best friends. I can't help but think of the Michael W. Smith song "Friends" from a few years ago when he sings about how "...friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them...and a lifetime's not too long to live as friends". I sincerely thank God for the good and true friends that He has placed in our lives, particularly those who share a like and enduring faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though at times we may find ourselves at odds, or in difficult or awkward situations, I know that my true friends will always be just that - "True Friends".
Just as David had Jonathan, and Paul had Timothy, we too have friends that we love and cherish. If you find that you are in a place where you cannot make such a statement, I encourage you to seek out a church; a good, solid, Bible believing, Holy Spirit filled church where you can find the friends like those God has given us. They are there! Proverbs 18:4 refers to such a friend when it says "A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Jesus, of course)." And we can have friends like that in our lives everyday here in this life if we will open our lives up to the Gospel of Christ and allow Him to comfort us with true friends. As the writer in Proverbs says "...we must show ourselves friendly..." I believe that means that we must make ourselves available by going places where we have the opportunity to expose ourselves to potential friends; Godly friends, and build meaningful relationships with them. True friends are a blessing from God the Father to help and encourage us along the way, to keep us on track and accountable, and always advancing forward in this adventure called life.
So cultivate Christian friendships. Cherish them like the precious gifts they are, and never allow life's circumstances come between you. God bless you, and have a wonderful week.
Just in case you don't recall the song, or even if you do, click the link below. I really think you will enjoy watching and listening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF0UPv20kUA&feature=player_detailpage
Bob
Just as David had Jonathan, and Paul had Timothy, we too have friends that we love and cherish. If you find that you are in a place where you cannot make such a statement, I encourage you to seek out a church; a good, solid, Bible believing, Holy Spirit filled church where you can find the friends like those God has given us. They are there! Proverbs 18:4 refers to such a friend when it says "A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Jesus, of course)." And we can have friends like that in our lives everyday here in this life if we will open our lives up to the Gospel of Christ and allow Him to comfort us with true friends. As the writer in Proverbs says "...we must show ourselves friendly..." I believe that means that we must make ourselves available by going places where we have the opportunity to expose ourselves to potential friends; Godly friends, and build meaningful relationships with them. True friends are a blessing from God the Father to help and encourage us along the way, to keep us on track and accountable, and always advancing forward in this adventure called life.
So cultivate Christian friendships. Cherish them like the precious gifts they are, and never allow life's circumstances come between you. God bless you, and have a wonderful week.
Just in case you don't recall the song, or even if you do, click the link below. I really think you will enjoy watching and listening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF0UPv20kUA&feature=player_detailpage
Bob
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