Welcome to REAL Men RoCK

This blog is about the issues men face and things I have experienced.

I hope you will be encouraged, challenged, and stirred to take action.

Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)

17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another

REAL Men RoCK

R
ighteous   E ncouraging   A ccountable   L oving 

Men 

R
ely on    C hrist's   K indness

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Hope Rising

My wife, Kat, has shared a book called "Hope Rising" with me that I want to recommend to you. It is about the stories of the pain and victory of the children and horses who visit the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.

The back cover says it all: "Where Wounded Spirits Run Free"

Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child's soul. From mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.

In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse.

Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality...a place where hope rises.


As I read the stories found in the pages of this book tears swell to my eyes. Tears being brought by the story of how one teen's determination saves four abused horses.  Tears being brought because of how an abused horse and an abused child find peace and trust in each other.

Tears brought because this is what the body of Christ, the Church, should be doing. Let me challenge you to move beyond the four walls of your building and get your hands dirty with the lives of the wounded. I want to encourage you to be more than a Sunday morning Christian that goes to church each week to pay the premium on your hell insurance.

God wants to add your story to the book of Acts but in order to do so you must get out of the pew, get off the couch and act. You need to discover, develop and use your Spiritual Gifts in order to not be like the person talked about in the "Parable of the Talents" found in Matthew 25: 14-30 who hid the talent given to him. Unless you take the talent (Spiritual Gifts) the Holy Spirit has emparted to you and use them in service to others you are hiding it and it gains nothing for the Master. You are wasting the pages of the book of Acts that could have been added.

In 2010 become a person who is being the Church not doing Church. I suggest you purchase "Hope Rising" and let God stir in you the compassion found in the hearts of these children who have found hope. I want to read about your story as God adds it to the book of Acts. He can do great things through a person with a compassionate heart.

Monday, December 21, 2009

What is Your Number One Goal for 2010?

posted at A Community Chaplain blog


Many people start each new year out making several resolutions. They set everything from Losing Weight to Making More Money as goals but usually within a few weeks they end up giving up on reaching their goals. I want to encourage you to spend the next few days considering what my friend, Doug Walton, would call the "One Thing" that you would want to accomplish. Don't make it a small goal but a BIG one because a small one will be given up on much easier than a BIG one. Besides God made you for BIG accomplishments.

If we look back over the postings on this blog we will find I shared several goals with you:
1. Sunday service every six weeks at a local Nursing Home.
2. Organizing a Louisburg Christian Fest.
3. Organize a local chapter of "Watchdogs".
4. Hold a weekly prayer service for men.
5. Become an Angel Tree Coodrinator for Louisburg.
6. Lead two small groups for men.
7. Help with the Fall Harvest Fest.

Those are all good things to get involved with but is that using the gift that I have been given by the Holy Spirit to it's fullest? Probably not. I believe what I would be better using my gift focusing on finding the folks who have the heart for those ministries and equip, empower and release them to doing those things.

The Holy Spirit places many ideas in my mind and being the person I am I immediately begin to think how I can accomplish them when I should be thinking about who has God gifted for that ministry. In my Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI) training my first reaction is that of a Shepherd and the second is the reaction of a Rancher. A Shepherd sees a problem and immediately runs to take care of it. A Rancher sees a problem and he immediate considers who has the gift and heart to take care of it and thereby grows a new shepherd. The Shepherd is involved in everything even the things he has deligated to others but the Rancher allows the new shepherd to grow through the experience. Both are needed in the Church but one results in ministry being done by a few and the other results in ministry being done by the Church.

Let me make the difference even more clear by sharing a true story. Soon after having what we called a VLI Intensive Weekend, which was an all day Saturday and half a day Sunday study fest, I had a friend come up to me and suggest something for the men's ministry. He shared with me how he believed we needed to do John Eldredge's "Wild at Heart" series with men at the Vineyard. I asked him what we needed to do that and he told me the "Wild at Heart" dvd and a leader. Normally I would have taken this idea and run with it by getting the necessary supplies, the room and then advertising it to the men. As I left church that day I began to think how we could make this event happen and what it would take for me, yes I said me, to do it. Here is what I realized: 1. I did not have nor could I get the funds to purchase the dvds. 2. Without the dvds I could not do the event. 3. My heart was not fully into the event.

The next day I went to work as usual and when I got home I picked up our mail. There was one letter that was unexpected and a check for $150. As I looked at the check I immediately thought about going to ChristianBook.com and finding out the price of the dvd series.  I logged on and found it special priced at $99 and placed the order. Within a few days the package came and as I opened it my friends word came back to mind about the two things that kept us from doing the series. I believe that the unexpected check was a God thing and what I did the next Sunday was also a movement of the Holy Spirit.

Just before services the next week I saw my friend across the room and with package in hand I approached him. I asked him what was keeping us from having the "Wild at Heart" series for the men and when he replied that we did not have the dvds I handed them to him. He looked at them and then said, "We don't have a leader for the group". At that moment the Holy Spirit put these words in my mouth, "The leader is holding the box". That was my first experience being a Rancher and not a Shepherd. When he responded that he could not do it by himself I told him I would find another guy to help him.

What were the result of these two guys working together? When they kicked the series off they had over 50 men show up for the event. In comparison our typical men's event at the Vineyard usually drew 25 men. These two men have grown into leaders, one travels helping to give "Marked Men for Christ" events and the other is now Pastor of a Vineyard in Raytown, MO. These two men have achieved far more than I have but it may not have happened if I would have reacted like a Shepherd and not a Rancher. When I handed the project off to the guys I totally backed out being involved because in the VLI training it stressed how just because you have deligated something does not mean you have released it unless you are willing to let go of the reins.

Now back to the point of this post. In looking back over the past year I realize I have gotten off track some and began to focus again on those things the Holy Spirit is stirring in my mind. All of the things on the list above can be done better than me by someone who has the gift and heart to do them. A friend once told me I had the gift of "Enabling" and what he meant by that is I help people discover and use their gifts in ministry. My number one goal is to begin to focus on being a Rancher in 2010.

A secondary goal is to spend one night each week at a local bar and play a game of pool with some men there. The goal there is to begin developing some relationships with men who do not attend church and in a non-threantening way share the Gospel of Jesus with them.

Take the next few days considering what your talents and gifts are. Then pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you in how to put those talents and gifts into practice in the lives of others. Narrow your focus down to one main goal and one secondary goal. One final thing make sure both of these goals are things you have a heart to do and not based on what someone else thinks you should do.

By doing this I believe you will experience the joy of achieving more in 2010 than you ever dreamed you could. May the Creator God bless you as you plan out bringing Him glory through the talents and gifts He has given to you.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Joy to the World


Over the next few days I will share with you songs from Chris Tomlin's Christmas album.The last post from this album will be Christmas day. May the Lord speak to you through the coming days.

Living the Dream

posted at A Community Chaplain


On Thanksgiving day our daughter, Missy, and her children, Spencer, Dakota, Cierra and Kia and their dad, Brandon, came over for dinner. After we had eaten a nice meal we sat down and I presented an idea to them. I suggested that this year for Christmas that we not give gifts to each other but instead find a family to bless. Everyone was in a greement and the kids were excited for the opportunity. Cierra immediately said, "We get so many gifts at Christmas from other people I think it would be nice to give to someone in need." I must say I have the neatest grandkids.

Here are the gifts we are giving.



I have been blessed to be able to do the dream that God has placed in my heart. Making a child's dream come true is just a small way I am allowed to touch the lives of hurting people who God cares for.

Beginning in January I will be meeting with some men at the TimberCreek Bar and playing pool and sharing our hopes, our dreams and our life struggles. We will visit the bar and invite other guys to join us and as we build some relationships I will share the hope that Jesus brings.

I share these two things with you not to toot my horn but to encourage you to get in touch with your dream and then do it. Turn off the television, or the computer or the stereo and get off your rear and do something at least one day a week that will touch the life of someone less fortunate than you. Sharing what Jesus has done for you with someone else does not have to be threatening or boring. If you go where the missing are you might find that the excitement is already there but it is wrapped in a worldly package. Go ahead and take the risk to explore your dream and what God has waiting for you.

If you live in or close to Louisburg come join us at the TimberCreek Bar on Thursdays beginning in January.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Equip, Empower and Release the Body to Ministry

For many years my wife, Kat, and I were involved in a legalistic church. We kept the Sabbath, Saturday, and the Holy Days listed in the Old Testament. We did so legalistically. After 17 years of trying to keep the law I found that I had not changed except that people could see by my actions that I could do those things. Inside I was still the same.

When Kat and I left that church we began to go to a church where freedom was taught and practiced. Freedom to become what God wanted us to be not freedom to sin. We were encouraged and trained to use our Spiritual Gifts and without restraints except to do so in a Biblical way. We did not have to have the pastoral staff giving us the okay to minister to others nor did they have to be involved. The results was growth in our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.

During my pastoral training I was tuaght my job as a pastor is to help people discover their gift(s), equip them and then empower them to do ministry. Part of equipping was to work along side of them first teaching, then showing and then letting them do ministry. Once that cycle was complete and they exhibited sound Biblical approaches to ministry we were taught to get out of their way and let them minister.

Most church models is designed around the senior pastor either doing everything or controlling everything. From my experience this produces a climiate of people who will go around those who have been given the office of ministry and directly to the senior pastor. They will report to the senior pastor everything taking place and the result is a lack of ministry because people will become fearful that they are not performing according to church rules.

When Kat and I were in the Worldwide Church of God we were restricted by pastors in what we could do and with whom we could do it.  When we left the WCG and started attending the other church we were trained for ministry and then released to total freedom to minister.
 
The question is not organization but of restriction. Sometimes pastors do not trust their people to minister freely and some fear giving too much power away. Some pastors have been trained in a church model that has all ministry flowing from the pastors and then through a selected group of members. None of these are necessarily sinful models but each restricts what the body can do. I have experienced a model of total restriction and one that reflects a model similar to the beginning church. The apostles commissioned the body to ministry and allowed them to minister. If you read acts and the following letters it sometimes resulted in some abuses but more often than not it led to church growth.

My question for you is what type of church do you attend?  Pastors what type of leader are you?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

What Qualifies Me To Minister?

For the past five years I have been happily living in a small town in the Midwest part of the United States. I graduated from Vineyard Leadership Institute and was ordained in the Association of Vineyard Churches in 2006.

Soon after being ordained I attended our small town's Minister's Alliance lunch and presented an idea to the group of pastors. Because of my life experiences and the gifts I have been given by the Holy Spirit I have a heart for helping men find healing for the wounds of life. As I presented my ideas I could see  agreement in the eyes of some of the pastors and when I was done with my presentation the pastor who invited me made a statement that questioned my qualifications to minister to other men. He wanted to know if I had a masters in Theology or Counseling because he would not send men to any program that was not led by a qualified person.

Two years later I still feel God is calling me to be involved in helping men and women find healing for their wounds. I do not have a masters or a bachelors degree but I do have a PHD (Personal History Degree) in life and I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me and that more than makes up for my lack of education. I have met many educated people who did not have a clue how to relate to people who were hurting.

To gain a master degree one has to write a thesis or dissertation within their field of study. He or she has to know their subject well and be able to write a paper explaining their position on a particular part of it. Following is sort of my paper on why I am qualified to minister to hurting men and women.

When I was three my mom ran off with another man while our dad was out of town on business leaving me, my 6 month old sister in the care of my 7 year old brother. He cared for us by himself for about four days before anyone discovered what had happened. I did not realize how this affected me until about 10 years ago when I discovered that although I am a faithful man I did not know how to express love for my wife. Not only that but I always lived in fear of being abandoned. The results of not knowing how to express love and living in fear of abandonment was experiencing two divorces which only reinforced my fear of being abandoned. I understand fully why men turn to drugs, alcohol or pornography to medicate their fears and why they find it hard to show love apart from sexual intercourse.

Right in that one paragraph are all of the life experiences needed for ministry yet there is more. When I was eighteen and heading off to Vietnam I had a lay over in California and an Air Force Staff Sergeant acted as though he was going to befriend me and show me a fun night on the town but instead sexually molested me. For the next 30 years I avoided male friendships fearing that it would lead to similar actions. When I discovered my son was living a homosexual life I disowned him and have lived in regret every since.

What qualifies me to minister to men? I have experienced almost every sin they can get involved in and by the Grace of God He delivered me from them. He did that through men and women who have experienced similar events in their life. Men and women who the Holy Spirit are operating in and who are surrendered to His guidance. Men and women who allow God to use them to be instruments of healing in the lives of hurting, wounded people.

What qualifies me to make the statement I am a Community Chaplain? My PHD in life and the power of the Holy Spirit working through me. No school, college, university or church has called me to work with the addicted, the rejected and the dejected. God has and that is the most important qualification I need.

What I do need are people who support what God is calling me to do. I need people with skills and gifts that I do not have to come along side of me. I need to step back and let them use their gifts without trying to control them. I need to submit daily to God and to rely on His power to minister to hurting people who want to find healing for the wounds of life.

Being a Community Chaplain is not my vision but the vision God has placed in my heart. It is a ministry that can help our community to be a better community and it can work in cooperation with the local churches without being in competition with them. The Kingdom of God is not a denomination or an organization it is made up of people who have come to accept Jesus as their Lord and their Savior. The job of the Church and pastors is to make the journey to healing one that is more attractive than staying in their woundedness and addictions.

As always I am interested in your comments about how this post hit you.

Friday, December 4, 2009

What Are You Known For?

The following is a post from my other blog A Community Chaplain.

I had a wonderful time this morning interviewing Jay Preston the Director of My Father's House in Paola, KS. Over the next few posts I will include the things we chatted about. I believe that the first thing I would like to share is probably the most important.

One of the questions I was going to ask Jay was, "What do you want people to remember about you?" I never asked that question directly because he answered it several times while answering other questions. I believe I can safely say Jay wants to be remembered as a guy who took the risk to do what God wanted him to do no matter what the cost.

What is so important about that statement? Consider the men and women written about in the Bible. Many were ordinary folks that God used in extra-ordinary ways. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Esther, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and the disciples are all people who were not much different than you and me. The only difference might be is that they took the risk to do what God planted in their hearts.

Jay is one of those people. Seven years ago God planted a dream in his heart of helping the rejected, the dejected and the addicted. The people who most churches will help but at an arms distance. From his life experiences Jay could have said there is no way I want to get involved with that type of thing. Instead he moved forward past his doubts and answered God's call. I will write more about Jay in future posts.

Here is what I want to stir in you today, "What is God calling you to do?" Whatever it might be I am here to tell you that people will oppose what you are being called to do. They will misunderstand, disagree with, or just plain fight you about it. You might hear things like, "Why are you planning to do that?", "You aren't talented enough or smart enough to do that.", "Don't you understand that the people you are thinking of serving are losers?". I am also here to tell you that if it is really God calling you to do it none of that matters. Dexter Yeager, a Diamond in the Amway multilevel marketing business once said, "If the Dream is big enough, the facts don't count." God is so much bigger than any fact that you might face. He is bigger than the group of people who will scoff at your dream. He is bigger than a lack of money, a lack of supporters and you!

You do not have to be known for the mistakes you have made, for the failures in your life or for your lack of talent. When you accepted Jesus as your savior God through His Holy Spirit gave you gift(s) that can be used despite you.

Here is my challenge to you today: 1. Take the time over the next few days to ask our Father what is it He wants you to do.  2. Journal about it during the week. 3. Ask at least three people to pray about it with you. 4. If God confirms what was placed on your heart begin the process of pursuing it.

One last thing that Jay sort of said, "It is all about Grace, Grace, Grace, not you." Whatever God has placed on your heart is not about you but about sharing the Grace and Mercy that God has given to you.

As always I am interested in hearing about what God is stirring in you. Please leave a comment and give me the opportunity to pray with you about your dream.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving

On Thursday, November 26th, we will celebrate our national day of thanksgiving.  Most in our country mistakenly believe that the holiday centers around the pilgrims giving thanks to the Native American peoples who helped them through a harsh winter.  The truth is the pilgrims gave thanks to God for His blessings and for the help He guide their way through the Native American peoples.

The purpose of this post is to give you an oppoortuntiy to openly give thanks for the blessings you have.  Please share them with others in a comment.  I am not concerned with your religious or non-religious beliefs.  I am more interested in learning what you are thankful for.

I am thankful first of all that God has provided a way for me to be forgiven for my sins, which I believe comes through my faith in Jesus Christ.  I have been blessed me with many talents and gifts.  I have a wonderful wife, a terrific daughter, two talented sons and four of the greatest grandchildren.  I am thankful for the opportunity to live my dream as I grow through serving others.

I look forward to hearing what you are thankful for.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

REAL Men RoCK Men's Group

Over two years ago my best friend, Doug Walton, and I started a small group called, "REAL Men RoCK".  When Doug died several months later I struggled to keep it going but I believe I did and moved it in a different direction.  One of the goals from the beginning was to get men to develop closer personal relationships with other men.  Many of the men who attend on a regular basis have done exactly that.  On Thursday, November 19th, we are going to have our last meeting and here is what I shared:

We looked at Philippians 1: 3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

 7-8 It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!

When Doug and I began this group called REAL Men RoCK we had a vision of a group of men growing in our relationships as we studied the word of God. I am so thankful for what God has done through the Holy Spirit over the past two years.

Here are some things I am thankful for regarding the men who have been in this group.

Ken, I appreciate the Determination and Positive Attitude you have displayed as you have journeyed through the employment struggles.

Brian, I am thankful for the Dream that God has given you to serve the hungry.

Chuck, I am encouraged by your Desire to keep moving forward in overcoming.

Brad, I have enjoyed watching a Leader being developed who has a desire to serve others.

Rick, I am enjoying being part of the Dream that God has placed in your heart. I am glad you are taking the risk to pursue it.

Doug, I have enjoyed serving with a Real Servant Leader.

Neal, I thank you for your desire to bring Prayer into everything we do. Your Heart for others stirs me to action.

Mark, I appreciate your willingness to Risk coming to a group where you did not know anyone. That desire for Male friendship is a desire many men would like to have but fear.

Charles, Even though you only came to one meeting I believe you represent the results that Doug and I had hoped for.

Rob, I miss what God was doing in our midst. You are an important part of the growth I experienced the past three years.

I am so thankful that God connected me up with Doug Walton. He challenged me in many ways and always gave me something to think about. God used him to show me a faith that I was looking for. Each of you men have been used by God to move me forward as a Christian man and I am thankful for having had the honor of leading the group you choose to join.

One of the things I encouraged you to do is to develop closer relationships with each other and several of you have done that. I must admit I failed to be as faithful in doing what I preached. Sure my job kept me from having much free time but if something is important to you, you will find a way to do it. I apologize for not being a better leader in that aspect.

Mark Warner, Senior Pastor at Vineyard Church, taught us in VLI that when a wine skin no longer holds wine it is time to replace it. Our Thursday evening group since moving from the Vineyard has began to appear to be just that type of wine skin with attendance down to two or three each week. I believe it has served its purpose and now must be replaced with something better for each of you. After tonight, REAL Men RoCK, will no longer meet on Thursday evenings. I terminate it with sadness but also with the joy that I have received over the past two years. I can honestly say that I love each of you as a brother and that I look forward to continuing our friendship but maybe through one on one meeting. I intend to keep Thursday evenings open for opportunities to meet with you in a more personal way.

I want to thank each of you for trusting me with your dreams, your fears and your wounds.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Some of my favorite Blogs

With this post I want to share some blog of some of my friends or that I follow.  Please pay them a visit and give them a shout.

The Shepherd's Garden

http://shepherdsgarden.wordpress.com/

I have known Rick Duggan for about two years and he has a Passion to help people through Hoop Gardening. 

Rick's Blog  

http://ricksblog-rick.blogspot.com/

I have known Dick Mann for about 27 years and when I was homeless he took me in.  He has been a Spiritual example for me for many years.

Body Kare by Karen

http://www.bodykarebykaren.com/

I have known Karen for about 12 years and have grown to appreciate her insights on Healthy Eating.

Jason the Bald Guy   http://jasonthebaldguy.com/

I have known Jason since he moved up to our area from Louisiana after hurricane Katrina and I love his Outlook on life.

Nutrition Coach Karen

http://nutritioncoachkaren.blogspot.com/

This is the same Karen as above and this is her Nutrition website.

Caribbean Shulamite 

http://caribbeanshulamite.blogspot.com/

I do not personally know the Caribbean Shulamite but have read her blog and she has read mine. We share in the belief that Jesus is Lord and Savior. She has been an encourager of mine for the past year.

Each of these blogs offer a unique perspective on life and some great ideas on how to improve your life.  Each of the authors are fulfilling their dream and their calling through sharing on their blog.  I believe you will find what they share on their blog to be a blessing.

I not only have them as my friends but I value their input into my life.  

One final one A Community Chaplain

http://louisburgcommunitychaplain.blogspot.com/

I have known this guy for over 59 years and I must say he is my favorite blogger. Okay, so this last one is one of my blogs but I still appreciate what the guy has to say.

Vineyard Church, Overland Park, KS

While attending this church I found healing for many wounds I have suffered from life.  Through sound Biblical teaching and a leadership that focused on healing rather than condemning I experienced many breakthroughs.

New Life Church, Louisburg, KS

This is now my church home whether I have the honor to serve as Pastor of Life Groups and to oversee Men's Ministry. I am living my dream and fulfilling my calling through my blogs and through serving at New Life.  I encourage you to open up the gift in you and take the risk to pursue it.

Father, May each person who visits these blog today be blessed by the words they read. In the name, the authority and the power of Jesus Christ amen

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Who Has Your Blind Side?


Every man has a blind side and he needs other men to cover it. For years I lived fearful of having male friends. Then I found a church where men had compassion and a couple of men covered my blind side. They did not try to fix me instead they showed me Christ. Men let the Holy Spirit do the fixing as you do the encouraging. 

Men! I encourage you to get some guys together and go watch the movie, "The Blind Side". Then stop by a StarBucks or even a bar and talk about what was stirred in you. Guys if yo don't get another guy to watch your blind side satan and his demons will sack you.

Veteran's Day 2009

I salute all of the men and women who have served or are serving in the United States military.
Never forget that your freedom is not free, someone paid a price for it.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

America in Decline

The status of the United States ranks low around the world, over 10% unemployment, many more are under-employed, out of control government spending, government take-over of private business, and a proposed take-over of the entire health care system.  What is going on in the United States of America?  Why is the status of the United States in decline? It is very simple:

We have gone from a country with leaders who lead with these words, "In God We Trust" to a country with leaders who lead with these words, "In Government We Trust."  This is not only true in government but in many of the churches in America.

"We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and . . . from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come." - Samuel Adams

"Statesmen . . . may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand."

When a country begins to place it's trust in men, those who lead them, over trusting in God who created them, God will remove His favor on them and they will fall. 

Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

I believe we are watching this very thing taking place here in America. Unless we have leaders in government and in our churches who believe our government is under God we will experience a mighty fall.

To get our leaders to submit to God we must first submit ourselves to God and then ask Him to guide us as we elect leaders who will also submit to the God's will.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Are You a Dream Builder or A Dream Destroyer?

I am reading John Maxwell's book, "The Winning Attitude" and in chapter ten he talks about the results of having a negative atttiude.  One of the examples he points out is how Thomas Edison tried to persuade Henry Ford to abandon his work on the fledgling idea of a motor car. "It's a worthless idea." Edison, persistent in his own endeavors, told the young Ford. "Come and work for me and do something really worthwhile."  
Imagine if Ford would have listened to Edison there would be no Ford Motor Company that has provided and has made possible jobs for millions of people.
My questions for you to consider are:
1. Have you ever put down someone else's dream, calling it worthless?
2. Have you ever seen your dream as more worthy than the dream of your friend?
3. Have you ever felt jealousy because someone else is reaching for their dream as yours sits in the box of your heart?
I want to encourage you to take your dream out of the box and pursue it.  As you pursue your dream look for other people who are pursuing theirs.  Team up with them and encourage each other as you move forward.  If they are achieving their dream keep supporting them and you will get encouragement to continue to move on your dream.  Finally pray for their success and ask God to give you the courage to continue moving forward on yours.
I believe God is right now revealing your dream to you.  Allow Him to open up the possibilities and the excitement of doing something BIG for Him.  Please share your dream here so that I can pray for you and send messages of encouragement.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Your Checkbook, Your Calendar and Your WebSite Visits

Several years ago I heard a speaker say the following, "I can tell what your priorities are by looking at your checkbook and calendar.  I want to make a similar statement, "I can tell what and who you worship by your checkbook, your calendar and the websites you visit.

Think about that for a moment.  

I remember a time in my life when I spent most of my income and my time partying or in recreation.  I remember a time in my life when I would be embarrassed and ashamed to have you look at the sites I visited.

Now go review your checkbook, your calendar and the website you have visited.  What picture do you get of who or what you worship?   

Here is the good news: Jesus is able to cover every sin you and I have ever and will ever commit. Nothing can separate us from Christ. Romans 8:  31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

If what you found in your checkbook, your calendar and your internet surfing causes you distress I encourage you to lay each down before Jesus and surrender them to Him.  I promise you He will not focus on your sins but on your potential. 

Why Do You Worship?

Sunday we had a special guest speaker, Daniel Rric Groves.

He and his band played several worship songs and then Eric asked us a question that he has been asking at the various places he has been this year: "Why do you worship?"  I have to say that this service was one of the best worship experiences I have ever had.

I want to invite you to help me finish this post.  Click the comment button and share why you worship.  Over the past year I have had over 4,982 page views.  I want to celebrate by having my readers help me write the best post I have placed on this blog.  Right now as you listen to these worship songs pray about leaving a comment sharing why you worship.  By doing so I believe you will contribute to blessing someone who needs to read your comment.









I believe that worship is more than the songs we sing. I believe it involves our whole life and is expressed through our actions as well as through the songs we sing.

Thank you for your comment.  I look forward to being encouraged by what you share.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Facing Overwhelming Odds

In my prior post, Prepare for Battle, I mentioned the battle between David vs Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17 which I would like to talk about in this post.

You may or may not remember the story of how David when he was in his teens went to visit his brothers carrying a care package from their father.  Here is a summary of the story I found at http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/davidandgoliath.htm:

The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.

One day David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?"

So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight against the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd's staff, slingshot and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied ... today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air ... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel ... it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath's head. Finding a hole in the armor, the stone sank into the giant's forehead and he fell face down on the ground. David then took Goliath's sword, killed him and then cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. So the Israelites pursued, chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.

Here is some additional information:

When David first went to Saul, Saul sort of laughed at him, but then gave in.  He offered David his personal sword and shield, which David found too cumbersome.  David chose instead weapons familar to him.

In researching this battle here is an interesting piece of information I found at ChristianAnswers.com for you to consider about David and his sling:

Surprisingly, a good slinger hurled a stone as far and accurately as a good archer. Roman military texts recommended archery target practice at about 200 yards (183 meters). Slingers are known to hurl their projectiles even farther, as much as 440 yards (402 meters) (a quarter of a mile / 0.40 km).

As for accuracy, one ancient writer noted that the best slingers "would wound not merely the heads of their enemies, but any part of the face at which they might have aimed." Experiments demonstrate that missiles leave a sling in excess of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).

The best method of releasing a stone from a sling is by an underhand motion.


 I do not have any proof for what I have to say next but I can imagine from the scriptures that Goliath had his shield bearer go before him because he knew how accurate a warrior with a sling was.  I imagine that he would peek out from behind his shield and taunt David. Then with perfect timing given to David by the Holy Spirit he left go a stone and brought down the giant with one stone.

The stone that David used was probably about the size of a tennis or soft ball.  

While typical slingstones used by the Greek and Roman armies were the size of golf balls, different cultures liked different sizes. In fact, at some ancient Greek and Roman battle sites, archaeologists believe they can differentiate which slingstones were standard equipment for which army.

During all periods, it was important for an army's projectiles to be uniform in size and weight. Otherwise, a slinger would need to compensate with each toss. Each army standardized the size and shape for maximum accuracy, speed and distance.

This story about how a teenage boy, David, brought down a giant of a man, Goliath, is full of history and supernatural involvement by God.  To me it backs up my earlier post about 1. Know who your enemy is, 2. Know your weapons and 3. Know who has your back.  Our enemy is Satan and his team of fallen angels, our weapons are the word of God, the fruit and gifts of the spirit and those things found in Ephesians 6, and the one who has our back is the Holy Spirit.

I hope you found this informative, encouraging and helpful.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Prepare for Battle

Rising nearly 1,500 feet above the jungles below, Hill 488 was just 25 miles west of Chu Lai, Vietnam, and it was the perfect place for a Marine Corps recon team but for one minor factor…it was deep in enemy controlled territory, well maybe two, and surrounded by massive enemy buildups. Like David facing Goliath, the 16 Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen were pitifully small in the face of overwhelming odds.

It was June 12, 1966 in the early days of the United States involvement in the Vietnam war and as the sun was falling behind the western horizon several helicopters moved to the top of Hill 488 to drop off Staff Sergeant Jimmie Howard and his 15 marines. Two Navy Corpsmen completed the small unit delegated the mission of watching for enemy troop movements in the valley below and calling in artillery and air strikes on them. For two days Howard and his men did their jobs well. The North Vietnamese control of the area was disrupted by the effectiveness of the American firepower. It didn’t take long for the enemy to figure out that there had to be someone in the area watching them, directing the fire upon their every move. By the 3rd day Howard’s Battalion Commander A. J. Sullivan began to sense the danger the small recon patrol faced and offered to pull them out. S/Sgt Howard believed he could hold out one more day and requested permission to remain on the hill. By the time word reached Chu Lai that a full NAV battalion of 200-250 well trained soldiers were moving on Hill 488, it was too late to pull Howard and his men out. Somehow they would have to survive the night. 

Everyone in the patrol knew it was coming. S/Sgt Howard placed his Marines in strategic positions around the summit of the almost barren hilltop, with orders to pull back into a tight perimeter the moment the enemy struck. That moment came at 10 o’clock at night, only 12 feet from one of the Marine defenders. As the enemy swarmed the hill amid gunfire, grenades, mortars and support from four .50 caliber machine guns, Howard’s men pulled back into a tight circle only 20 yards in diameter. Back-to-back they began to defend their small area, counting on each other to work as a team to do the impossible. S/Sgt Howard moved among his men, encouraging them, directing their fire, shoring up the weaknesses in the perimeter. For most his Marines it was their first major test of combat. Huddled in the darkness amid the crash of grenades and mortars, the sky filled with tracer rounds, and outnumbered more than 10 to 1; the leadership and inspiration of S/Sgt Howard was all that sustained the men.

Then quiet engulfed the hill as the enemy pulled back, their fanatical human wave assault initially repulsed. S/Sgt Howard looked around him. Every one of his young Marines and both Corpsmen had been wounded in the initial attack. Several were dead. Worse, he knew the enemy would return in force again at any moment. Grabbing the radio Howard told Colonel Sullivan back at Chu Lai, “You have to get us out of here” But no rescue force could reach Howard’s men that night..the Marines would have to hold out until dawn.

Then, from down the hill the enemy began to taunt the few survivors on Hill 488 shouting into the darkness, “Marines, You die in an hour.”
One of Howard’s men asked, “Can we yell back at them?”
With nothing to lose Howard told his brave young men, Sure, yell anything you like.” They did, and soon their taunts back to the enemy were met with gunfire. The enemy was preparing to swarm the hill once again. The beleaguered Marines caught the enemy off guard as they joined voices in a “horse laugh”. The enemy suddenly stopped shooting and there was stoned silence. The enemy could not understand how a group of men terribly outnumbered could be laughing.

S/Sgt Howard knew the quiet would not last long. He surveyed what remained of his Marines and found that ammunition was running low. The grenades were gone, expended during the first wave of the assault. So he issued one of the most unusual combat orders in Marines history…

“Throw Rocks!!”

As incredible as the order sounded, it worked. When the enemy soldiers began to push their way through the sparse brush and knee high grass to probe the perimeter, Howard’s men threw rocks at them. Mistaking the rocks for grenades the enemy soldiers would move quickly out into the open, allowing the defenders clear shots that made every round of remaining ammunition count.
The Marines held the hill for another 5 hours and were finally rescued shortly after daybreak. After the 12 surviving men were safely back at Chu Lai it was realized that among them they only had 8 rounds of ammunition remaining. 

This story was found at Home of Heroes  http://www.homeofheroes.com/

David vs Goliath 1 Samuel 17 Another story of facing overwhelming odds.

I believe the above stories tells us three things: 
1. We need to know our Enemy 
2. We need to know our equipment and 
3. We need to know who has our back covered.
Let’s look at this same concept using Ephesians 6.

We need to know our enemy.
Ephesians 6: 10-12
A Fight to the Finish
10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. 

In Job 1: 8 we see that Satan and his demons are very powerful but they can only do what God allows them to do. (James 4: 7 Resist and he will flee)

We need to know and use our equipment 
Ephesians 6: 14-17
13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. 

Belt of Truth - The Roman soldier girded themselves with a belt, from which hung strips of leather to protect the lower body. Truth is crucial because dishonest Christians cannot hope to withstand the lies of Satan. The truth referred to here is integrity, a life of practical truthfulness and honesty.

In John 14: 6 Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” and it is this truth that holds all our Armor together. 

Breastplate of Righteousness - The breastplate of Roman times went completely around the body, so that the back of a warrior was also protected. The breastplate was made of hard leather or metal.

The righteousness that the breastplate represents is not the righteousness of Christ, which all believers possess, but the practical, righteousness and deeds of the believer. This breastplate protects the Christian’s heart from wrong desires.

In proverbs 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 6: 1-10 3 We put no obstruction in anyone's way [we give no offense in anything], so that no fault may be found and [our] ministry blamed and discredited. 4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities, 5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; 6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; 7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; 8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest. 9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; 10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

The life we live either fortifies us against the attacks of Satan’s kingdom or makes it easier for him to defeat us.

Shoes of the Gospel - A Roman’s soldier’s feet were shod with hard, studded shoes. Paul used this image to represent the preparation of the gospel of peace. This may mean either that the gospel is the firm foundation on which Christians are to stand or that the Christian soldier should be ready to go out to defend and spread the gospel. Good footwear could mean the difference between winning and losing.  

Shield of Faith - In some translations verse 16 reads Above all else take up the shield of faith…. This may mean that the shield is to be used against everything. It may also mean that the shield is to cover the whole armor. A Roman’s soldier’s shield typically measured 2 ½ to 4 feet. The Christian’s shield offers protection against all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Flaming arrows could not penetrate the fireproof shield of the ancient Roman soldier, nor can the assaults of Satan penetrate to the believer who places his or her faith in God.

Psalm 3: 3 But you are my shield, and you give me victory and great honor.

Helmet of Salvation - The intricately designed Roman helmet protected the soldier’s head and also made him look taller and more impressive. For Christian’s the helmet of salvation is to protect our minds from the things Satan will try to get us to think about that would not be pleasing to God.

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].

Sword of the Spirit - The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is the only offensive weapon in the believer’s armor. This weapon is not necessarily the Bible as a whole, but the specific word that needs to be spoken in a specific situation. To have the precise word ready, a person must know the Bible intimately. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 (James 4: 7 Resist and he will flee)

Know who has your back.
Ephesians 6: 18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Just like the marines under Sgt Howard’s command covered each other’s back you can have the assurance of knowing that through your continued prayers you will have God’s Holy Spirit covering your back. We all can benefit from having an accountability partner who not only holds us to a set of standards of our choosing but who has permission to speak into our life words of life. God has made us to be relational, with Him and with others.

Today some of you are facing giants or an enemy that appears to be larger than Goliath or maybe the giant is too small for the eye to see and it wants nothing more than to destroy you through discouragement. Some of you are faced with the giants of wrong thoughts, wrong desires of the heart, and some do not put on the shoes of sharing the gospel, others are fearful of relationships and sometimes you forget to put on the full armor available to you. 

I encourage you to take the time to know who your enemy is, to know what your weapons are that you can use to defend yourself and to know who has your back.



Saturday, October 24, 2009

Whether You Believe it or not You need Someone to Stand by You

We men try to go through life fighting our battles by ourselves.  We are often afraid other men will turn away from us when they discover our weaknesses, our faults or our sins.  When a man discovers true friends who stand by them no matter what it is like a soothing rain on a hot summer day.

In the Bible we have great examples of men taking the risk to become accountable to another man. Look when David hooked up with Jonathan and when Paul took Timothy under his wing.   

If you are a man and you have a hunger for someone to stand by you then take the risk and begin the search to find that one guy who will not judge you nor forsake you because of the junk in your life.  When you find him you will be glad you took the risk.


One of the goals I had in creating this blog was to reach men who were hiding from being real with another man.  I hope that out of the thousands who have read my posts that one man took the risk this last year to become a REAL Men RoCK.  

October 31, 2009 will be the first anniversary of this blog and I hope that I will have many more years of sharing what God has placed on my mind.

As always I would love to hear your story because I am sure it would benefit someone else.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Let's Get Real

Are you tired of hiding?  Are you desiring to reach victory in overcoming the things that hold you in bondage?  Today is your opportunity to lay before God the one thing that causes you to hide or that one thing you need victory from.

I hope that my story will encourage you to lay it all down before Jesus and accept His grace and mercy.  I am going to share certain events that shaped who I became.

When I was three my mom ran off with another man.  My dad had to care for my brother who was seven years old, me and my sister who was six months old.  My dad owned a construction company and he had to travel each week to the towns where the job sites where.  I remember fearing that one day he would not come home.

When I was in the second grade and again in the fifth grade I had a teacher humiliated me in front of the class.

When I graduated I had a teacher tell me I would never amount to anything but average and that I was not smart enough to go to college.

Soon after graduating from high school my girl friend became pregnant and we were married. Within a month of getting married I joined the United States Navy and went away to boot camp.

When I graduated from boot camp I was given orders to the USS Kitty Hawk which was participating in the Vietnam War.  On the trip to the Kitty Hawk I stopped over at an Air Force base and one of the non-commissioned officers invited me to go to town with him.  That night he sexually molested me.

After thirteen months overseas I returned home to a nine month old child and a wife who proudly admitted that she had repeatedly cheated on me while I was overseas.  Despite letting her be free of commitments to me she divorced me.

These events left wounds deep inside of me that I hide.  I was afraid of being abandoned and I feared having male friendships.  As a result I began to use different things to medicate my wounds and cover my fears.  I tried to escape the pain by using alcohol and pot.  After turning from those for medication I turned to the greatest male medicator, pornography and would spend hours escaping into fantasies.  My fears of abandonment and wounds of life kept me from being anything but average.  I never accomplished anything because I was constantly running away from commitment.

I became religious and still no victory over the things that held me bondage.

Then one day about severn years ago God got my attention while I was attending a men's conference.  The pastor giving the message spoke about our purpose and how God would use our life events to show us our purpose and our mission in life.  I had men who barely knew me pray that God would use me to touch other men.  The next day the pastor asked us this question, "What is that one thing that keep you from being used for the purpose God had for you?"  I tried to hide from answering that question.  As we got into our small group we sat there silent with no one wanting to break the silence.  All of a sudden my hand shot up and I was shocked.  Out my mouth came the words I know what keeps me from achieving my purpose.  I am addicted to pornography.  The men in the group were shocked and I was could not believe I said it.  But an amazing thing happened as one of the men placed his hand on my shoulder and prayed for God to bring victory into my life.  That day was the beginning of a process where God healed wounds and moved me to repentence and change.

For thirty-three years I was fearful and a man who had no true friends. Last night as I sat in our men's group called REAL Men RoCK I realized I was sitting with a group of guys who liked me and who saw me as someone more than average.  I sat there knowing that what I could not do God has done.  I am who I am today because of the events in my life and because of the Grace and Mercy of my savior Jesus that covers all of my fears and sins.  

My question to you is what keeps you from moving forward toward your purpose?  What holds you back from achieving victory?  Do you want to experience freedom?

All you have to do to begin the journey is to lay it all at the feet of Jesus and ask God to send His Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen you on the journey.  I cannot promise you instant deliverance but I can promise that one day you will confidently say Jesus covers all of my sins.

I encourage you to get real with another guy and let God work thorugh him to help and encourage you.  

Father, Send Your Holy Spirit to that guy who is reading this and needs the assurance that he can achieve victory.  In the power, the authority and the name of Jesus amen

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Priorities

With this post I am going to challenge married men to examine their work, recreational and married life.  I believe these three areas should have goals and priorities assigned to them.  

In 2 Thessalonians 2 we are told that we need to work: 2 Thessalonians 3: 10-13 Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.

In 3 John we are told to be prosperous and in good heal: 3 John 1-4 The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

In Ephesians 5: 33 we are told to love our wife: Ephesians 5: 33 And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

For us men the big challenge is how do we keep these in balance and in the right priority.  Men tend to identify themselves in the work that they do.  Sometimes they find their importance in the amount of money they make or the power they have.  Because of the stresses of life men tend to seek release of that stress in their recreational activities.  They end up spending more time and energy at work and in recreation than they do in lving their wife.

I believe as a man I should be involved in working, spend time in recreation and to love my wife. 

Here are three questions for you to ask yourself:

How many hours per week do I spend at work and volunteer activities?

How many hours per week do I spend in recreation?

How many hours per week do I spend working on my relationship with my wife?

In a given week we have 168 hours to use.  Subtracting the hours per week we spend sleeping, taking a shower, and eating, we have about 98 hours to use on the things that are important to us.

I am going to use myself as an example and I know that you could be similar.

I spend 40 hours working and donate about 15 hours per week in church related activities.

I spend about 5 hours riding my mountain bike.

That leaves me about 30 hours I could be using to focus on my wife.  When I look at what I do with the rest of the time I come to realize I spend more time working and donating my time than I do focusing on the most important priotity in my physical life.

As a man I know that I can get caught in the trap of seeing my position so important I will not release some of the duties to others so that I can focus time on my wife.  I know of pastors who have destroyed their marriage in order to grow their church.  I have watched them spend qualtiy time with their congregation and spend little time building their relationship with their wife and family.

This post is just as important for me as it is for the one who reads it and is spending more time working and having fun than he is spending at home building his relationship with his wife.  The church and our jobs are important but our marriage trumps both.  

Men the bottom line is if we are not building our marriage we are failing as followers of Christ.  If you tell me that you are a pastor and it is your job to spend time building the church I would agree but state that building your relationship with your wife is more important.  The example you set will be repeated through the church and so if you ignore your wife and family by spending more quality time with the church than you do them you will have a church full of men who will have failing marriages.

I confess today that I have and that I am guilty of not spending the quality time I should in building my relationship with my wife.  My number one priority is to build my relationship with God and one of the biggest parts of that task is to build my relationship with my wife.  Jesus uses the marriage relationship to show us the relationship we will have with Him.  

The question is: If you are guilty of not spending time with your wife what are you going to do about it?  

The good news is you and I can make the changes necessary to build a strong marriage, perform in an excellent way at our work and enjoy good recreation and do so in a way that pleases God.  

Join me in making some changes over the next 30 days and let's come back and  share the results.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Come Join Me in a New Adventure

In the mid-1990's a friend told me he believed I would be pastoring a church one day. I sort of laughed at him knowing my past and the obstacles I would have to overcome. Today I am here to share with you a new adventure I am going on and to seek your prayers and for your financial support.
About six years ago my wife, Kat, and I moved to Louisburg, KS, which is about 30 miles outside of Kansas City, MO with the idea of fixing up her mom's house, selling it and then moving back to the city.  Little did we know we would grow to love living in a small town.  During these years I continually bumped into a Pastor of a small church, called New Life Family Church, here in Louisburg.  This past spring the Pastor, Erik Kingsley, asked me to come and join his team and to see if it would turn into an Associate Pastor position.  Within just a few months we both decided that I would come on board as Pastor of Life Groups and Support.  The only problem was New Life does not have the members or the income resources to provide any type of salary for me.
We decided that I would work in my spare time helping Erik to grow New Life by developing Life Groups (also known as Cell or Small Groups).  The idea is as these groups grow spiritually the church will grow physically and eventually be able to have the resources for me to work full-time.  Right now I continue to work full-time at Wal-Mart and I am using Sunday, Monday and Wednesday evenings to help grow Life Groups and Saturday mornings to develop a Men's Ministry.
What I am asking people to consider is to help me raise the income necessary to replace my position at Wal-Mart so that I can focus on growing a Community Chaplain position which includes me being the Associate Pastor at New Life.  To see my plan please go to http://communitychaplin.wordpress.com/.  We hope that God will provide the growth necessary that any outside financial support will only be required for about six months.
Here are a couple of ideas: If 20 people will donate $20 per week or if 40 people will donate $10 per week my income from Wal-Mart will be replaced.  If 50 people gave the cost of a Starbuck's coffee plus tip or $5 per week I would be able to work part-time to make up the difference.
I encourage you to pray for the resources to come in and I ask you to consider being a part of my new adventure.
May God bless
Larry Clark

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Which is a Greater Miracle?

Last Sunday at New Life we had a guest speaker and his sermon was based on Mark 4: 35-41.  

Mark 4:35-41 (The Message)

The Wind Ran Out of Breath
 35-38 Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?" 

 39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?" 

 41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!"

His points were: 

1. You are in this storm by God's appointment.  (Mark 4: 35)

2. You are in the storm in His presence. (Mark 4: 36-38)

3. You are in the storm for His purpose. (Mark 4: 39-41)

He pointed out that the disciples went on to move from being cowards in a storm to preaching the gospel even to in the face of certain death.

Someone who is reading this is either suffering from an illness or knows of someone who is dying. The question for each of us is this: "Which is the greater miracle, being healed or being calm even in the face of death?"

By applying Psalm 46: 1-3 to our lives we can face any storm and remain calm.

1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Our Creator, our Savior, our Comforter promises to always be there for us.  We may die but He will not leave us in the grave. In Hebrews 13: 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,  “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

If you are facing a storm in your life no matter how small or how big know this our God cares. He more than cares He wants to provide you the strength and the comfort to remain calm even in the darkest night.

I hope this has provided you with a step towards trusting God in your storms.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Don't Look Back

Our little town of Louisburg, KS had a Labor Day parade and that ended at the American Legion park.  One of the events that took place at the park was a children's tractor pull.  Children got on little tractors that were powered by foot peddles and weights were added to a sled that was pulled behind.  The children were encouraged keep looking ahead as weigh was added because once they turned their head they would loose the momentum that they had built and would lose steam and stop.

This is a great example for us in our adult lives as we pursue a dream or try to do battle against those things that keep us from reaching our potential in life.  If we look back we will either stop short of our goal or get defeated by the failures in our life.

In Luke 9: 62 Jesus says, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." 

What did He mean by this?  Does this mean that if we look back at our life we are not worthy to inherit the Kingdom of God?  

Jesus in the verses before talked about people who He invited to follow Him but they came up with excuses why they could not do so at the  moment.  Jesus calls us to follow Him but sometimes we want to make up the rules of what that looks like or we want to clean up our act before we commit.  

Jesus is also talking about not looking back and desiring any part of our past life that is not according to His will.

Here is what happens if we look back: We can get defeated because of our former life style. We can lose heart to keep moving forward from shame of how we were.  We can let our brain be enticed to go back and taste of the fruit of our past. We take our eyes off the goal and our trust in God.

If you have experienced "Looking back" I have good news for you today.  If you are willing to look forward Jesus is willing to reach back and pull you forward.  He desires for you to move forward and not backward.  To live in victory not the defeats of the past.  The Holy Spirit will provide what you do not have so that you will have what you cannot obtain. All you have to do is turn around, take a step towards Jesus, and as you do He will come back to walk with you.  

Don't Look Back!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Being is Greater than Doing

What do I mean by the title of this post? By the time you are finished reading this post I hope that you will know what I mean and you will be inspired to examine yourself to see if you are being or doing.

I had coffee with a man today who preceives that people at the church he has been attending are shunning him because of possible gossip that is being spread about him in his community. As we talked I shared how when I first began to attend the Vineyard no one spoke or shook my hand even after I had visited 6 times. I shared how I later found out the people of that church had just gone through a painful split and I realized they were wounded and hurting. I shared what I preceived as unfriendiness was actually woundedness. I explained that maybe what he was picking up was a small church mentality and not shunning because of something they had heard.

I am not making excuses for either church but pointing out that sometimes the church comes together to worship God and they do church instead of being the church. When we do church nothing has changed in our lives and we come together to worship and we pretend. When we be the church we live out of our salvation by doing the things Jesus said the church would do.

In Matthew 25: 31-36 we are told that when Christ comes back He will separate the goats fromt he sheep. The sheep are those who gave Him water when He was thirsty, fed Him when He was hungry, clothed Him when He was naked, visited Him when He was sick, when He was a stranger they invited Him in, and when He was in prison they came to Him.

On any given week people who are thirsty and hungry for the truth and for friendship come to our churches. Each week people who are sick or in bond by sin come into our churches. Every week people who feel naked and strange slip into our churches.  

Those doing church see their thirst and hunger, hear of their sickness or bondage, or see their nakedness and stangeness and do n0t grasp their need. They continue to talk with those they already know or hold back from moving up to those in need. It is as if they have blinders on that keep them from seeing or hearing the cries of the needy.

Those who are being the church give water to the thirsty, they feed the hungry, they place hands on the sick, they patiently walk with those in bondage, they cover the naked and make the stranger feel welcome. Their eyes and ears are open to what God is wanting to do in the lives of others. Their hearts feel their pain. They identify with their situation. They take action to bring peace and comfort.

The question for you is: "Are you Doing Church or Are you Being the Church?"

If you read the book of Acts you will find that being a Christian involves ACTION.

Philippians 2
He Took on the Status of a Slave
 1-4 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

I encourage you to become the church that looks Upward to God, Inward to caring for the Body and Outward to those who are Missing from your weekly worship service. Most of all on the day you worship stop focusing on your own needs but keep your ears and eyes open for those who need you to be like Jesus.

Being the Church is so much Greater than Doing Church.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Don't Give Up!

There is a painting that shows the devil at a chessboard with a young man.  The devil has just made his move, and the young man's queen is checkmated. On his face is written defeat and despair. One day the great chess genius Paul Morphy stood looking at that painting.  He studied carefully the position on the board. Suddenly his face lit up and he shouted to the young man in the painting, "You still have a move--don't give up, you still have a move!"

We come to those moments when it seems we are checkmated.  We see no winning move we can make. Then the great Master of all life comes closer to us. He remembers one day when He prayed to be spared from the cross: "Let this cup pass from me," he pleaded. The cross seemed the end of His world.  But there was yet another move. Beyond the cross was an empty tomb--and victory.

That same Christ can see beyond your cross to some triumph. "Don't give up, you still have a move," He says.                      by Morris Chalfant from "The Advocate"

You may be looking at the painting of your life discouraged by failures, sin and disappointment. All that you see is broken and seems impossible to put together again. Just as the story above you still have hope but it is not found in human institutions or in the things that bring us pleasure. Only the one who gave all can bring us the peace and hope that we so desperately desire.  I encourage you "Don't Give Up!". You can still win in this game of life but you will have to allow the King of Righteousness to make that last move for you. You will find that victory is just a few words away, "I Surrender All".

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

17 Random Acts of Kindness

My wife, Kat, had surgery on Monday, August 31st.  While sitting in the waiting room at the hospital yesterday two things happened that I want to share.  

First, I was sitting reading a book called, “The Passionate Church” by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad. Two parts of this book hit me hard and I hope it impacts you as well. In Chapter 9 “Jesus and the Balanced Life” they describe how many churches are two-dimensional. Some churches are good at praying (Upward) and good at caring for the body (Inward), other churches are good at praying and good at reaching out (Outward) to those who do not attend church, and some are good at caring for the body and reaching out to those who do not attend church. In reality the church is to be a three-dimensional church, good at prayer, good at caring for the body and good and reaching out to those who do not attend church. In Chapter 20 “Practicing the Principles of a Vital Life” the authors say this, “Church health is all about life—the body of Christ being an organism rather than an organization. And life gets messy sometimes.

Let me clarify something I did not read 20 chapters of this book in the waiting room. I have this funny way of reading; I go wherever I feel led to read and these where the two chapters I was lead to read during my wait in the waiting room.

Second, after I had read these two chapters I put the book down and picked up "Life Posts" and read a story about a guy who started a website in honor of his grandfather and it was about doing Random Acts of Kindness. I had just finished reading this article as two black men and two black women came and sat close to me. The older black lady was crying about her daughter who was being operated on and who was pregnant and had lost the baby during the operation. Earlier I had noticed three people who in my mind because of their actions and dress were from a church and they happened to be black as well. The four people who sat close to me got up and moved to a different location.

Suddenly a random thought went through my head.  Go pray for them. I looked over at them and thought, “who me”? I then saw the three black church people and I went over and introduced myself. Thinking that they would be more accepted by the woman I asked them if they were from a church and they replied yes. (Okay, I was trying to get out of doing what God’s Holy Spirit was telling me to do.) Then I told them about the woman and her daughter and suggested they might want to go prayer with her. They took one look at her and turned to me and said I think you can do that.

I was stuck. God had said go pray and I had tried to punt and the ball came back into my hands. I got up and walked over and slipped to one knee and introduced myself to the woman. She told me her name was, Loretta, and asked me why I was there. I told her I overheard her conversation about her daughter and I would like to pray with her. I did and after saying amen I got up and she held my hand for a minute or so. As I sat waiting for Kat to come out of surgery I noticed a peace come over Loretta's face and I knew God was comforting her just I had asked.

I share that because I too often look the other way when someone is in need. I am either afraid I will not say the right words or that I will look foolish if I go up to them and offer to help. I want to encourage you to do something for the next 17 weeks: “Do some Random Act of Kindness (RAK)” each Friday. It could be something as simple as praying with someone or even paying for coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks. If you do 17 Random Acts of Kinds the last one will take place Christmas day. I am choosing Friday because it is the last day of most people’s work week and we have the most opportunities to see a person in need while going to work or at work.

If you take me up on this challenge I would like for you come back to REAL Men RoCK blog and share as a comment what happens each Friday you do a Random Act of Kindness. I believe at the end of the 17 weeks many lives will be touched and changed. I know if I would take the effort to do this I will be changed and I will be a living part of the body of Christ and not a member of an organization.

Praying, Caring for the Body and Reaching out to the Hurting is the mission of the church.  If we do these things we will be a healthy church.