The Warrior

Thanksgiving last week was great. It was good to see some of Janna's relatives and her 96 year old grandmother.  I didn't eat too much, and really took it easy on the desserts.  I just don't get into gorging myself anymore during the holidays.  We also got together with my side of the family on Saturday, and that was great too.  We had great conversations, collected firewood for my parents, and just had an outstanding time.

We started back with my men's small group last night and started a new series called "The Warrior".  It sort of has the Wild At Heart feel to it.  It's one of those "men need to be men and not be ashamed to be so" type of study.  This first discussion was about the spiritual battle we are in, and how sometimes we may not relate our non-spiritual, natural world issues as having a spiritual issue at it's core.  It could be that we are just unaware, or just choose not to acknowledge that it is.  I smiled as I read the discussion outline because the first verse mentioned was one I used in a previous posting:

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
                                                                                   Ephesians 6:12

I hope that the discussion encouraged the guys to not shy away from this fight, but to be on the front lines of the battlefield, and take on the challenges of life head on with Jesus on our side. Our encouragement came from this verses:

³ He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. ⁴ For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
                                                                                Deuteronomy 20:3-4

 "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."                                                                                     

                                                                                          Nehemiah 4:14

What is your battle today?  What is your ongoing battle?  Find encouragement in these verses.  He has already won!

Communication with the Father at its most basic form is prayer.  Communication is one of the keys to any healthy relationship.  Take time to develop your relationship with Him and let Him know your hopes, dreams, fears, struggles, battles, and victories.  He wants to know. Read Full...

Monday Night Football Fellowship

For the last several weeks I have had the honor and pleasure to lead a men's small group at our home, and let me tell you, it has been nothing short of amazing.  The guys that come are a really awesome group.  The concept of the group is to have a biblical conversation and after, watch Monday Night Football, so we call it the MNFF.  It's a good mix of ages and backgrounds and it just makes for great discussion.  Last night we had the best discussion we have had since the group began.

The discussion revolved around the topic of church, and our idea of what the church looks like, and what it should look like.  How the church is not a building with four walls, but how we are the church, a community of believers, and we are supposed to be engaged in the conversation of Christ.  Sometimes we forget that church is not just a building, it is a body, a family, an army, a flock, and a bride.  My favorite example is an army.  After all, this is a battle we are in.  A spiritual battle.

Eph. 6:12  

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We also discussed what I believe has been an aspect of church (the four wall kind and the person kind) that needs serious attention.  I believe if the church is going to thrive and be effective in reaching the lost, it must be theologically relevant and culturally relevant.  For us to reach young adults (there are fewer 18-30 year-olds in church than there ever has been), we MUST be able to speak their language, relate to them on a personal level, and be able to meet them at their felt needs and minister to their true spiritual needs.  This is how we are going to engage in a conversation about Christ with them.  What does this mean?  The method of delivery is constantly changing with the time, but the message stays the same.  Paul was the pioneer of cultural relevancy in meeting people where they were as we see here:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23. 

¹⁹Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

My prayer is that we get the opportunity this week to encounter and minister to someone in need.  Let's make a point to engage in the conversation! Read Full...