For Men



Ephesians 6:10-13 teaches us that if you are a Christian man, then you are called into the battle of life. This is not an invitation. This is a command. For far too long, men have been on the sidelines, in the bleachers, or on the couch while the "spiritual forces of evil" have corrupted our culture, attacked our families, and infiltrated the Church. If you are a Christian man, then you are a leader. As faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we must become the sacrificial servant leaders that He modeled for us. We are to be His true ambassadors 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

It’s time for Christian men to get off our rears and “Cowboy the @#*% Up (Bruce Willis in “Tears of the Sun”).” It’s not up to the wives/mothers to instruct and lead the families; it’s the calling of us men to lead our families. Mark Discol in the early years of Mars Hill Church had young men not stepping up and being husbands and fathers so he had a special service for only the men of the church. In this meeting, he laid out what being a man truly means using the Bible and at the end handed all who attended a bag with two marbles saying, “Here’s your balls back.”

Boys learn to be men by watching the men in their lives. I encourage the men who attend our weekly men’s group to lead their families. We have a young man who asked me if it is alright for him to start bringing his one month old son to class. I know this is to give his wife a little rest before church, but I told him it’s never too early to teach a boy to be a man. Who knows, maybe these group sessions will stick with him. It’s time for the church to focus on getting men either back or get the men who are there involved. It takes a real man to love Jesus.

Little Eyes Are Watching



This morning, I received an e-mail from my sister, Wendi, about her 8 year old son Justin. The note reads, “Justin's school is having a run/walk today. They get prizes for the number of laps they can do in 30 minutes. This morning Justin was doing his stretch exercises like you taught him. He plans to run the whole time like his Uncle Tom. We'll see what he actually does.”

This note just reminds me of how important it is for us adults to be mindful of our words and actions around the little ones. Justin and I only ran together twice while they visited at Christmas. It amazes me what he took away from it. Justin is only 8 years old but because I took the time to show him something that interested him, he has applied to his life.

I tell the men of the Bible Study I lead on Sunday mornings, that men learn to be men by watching either their fathers or the men in our lives at a young age. In general, children are watching us; how we react to issues, discussions, and/or conflict. We should be mindful of our actions and words everywhere we go but especially around children. They are little sponges that absorb every little word. When little and learning, children want to be just like daddy and/or mammy. They will mimic everything we do. It’s amazing.

Last month, a friend of Teresa and mine’s father died from cancer. In his memorial, the son said that his father was the same in church as he was in the house. Since he practiced what he preached and walked the walk, the four siblings all doing something in ministry. We never know what lessons we are teaching though our actions. Remember, actions do speak a whole lot louder than words ever will.

Swamp Stomp Half Marathon Photos

Below are some photos Teresa and some friends took of last weekend's half marathon. I wrote down some thoughts in the post under all the photos. You can't see it but I sweat so much that I had salt above my eyebrows and the side of my forehead. It was awesome.

Looking fresh before the race starts. That blue cloth holds alot of water; it kept the sweat from my eyes.

People lining up for the race.

Entering the last 50 yards.

Making my way through the final few yards to the finish line.

Finishing another race.

Looking at the Frost's little dog.

On my way to give Teresa a kiss.

Checking my watch for my final time as Elain congratulations me.

Ed Frost and me enjoy the music and the fellowship.

My bid number and medal.

Finishing Strong




On Saturday, I ran in my second half marathon. My goal was to finish better than my first one. A few weeks ago, I set my mind on finishing no later than 2 hours 30 minutes; I race my first half marathon in 2 hours 41 minutes back in August 2008. The morning of the race, that time changed in my mind to 2 hours 25 minutes. I started off well with averaging 10 minutes a mile. As I was running, I hit the wall that all runners hit. I hit it after 9 miles. I had to dig into myself and push through. When I made it to the finished line, I saw that I finished the race at 2 hours 23 minutes. This is 18 minutes faster than my first half marathon. I was stoked.

Every race I run, I want to finish strong. I don’t want to walk the last part of it or walk over the finish line. I want to run through the finish line. As most races, on Saturday the passage of scripture came to mind that Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I also thought of Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Just as my desire to finish strong in the road race, I want to finish strong in the Christian race. I want to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant” out of my Lord’s mouth. When my race is over and I breathe my last breath, I want to be running the Christian race as strong and fast as I have since the day God drew me to Himself.

Networking



I enjoy FaceBook because I’ve been able to get reconnected with college friends and see what some former teens (now 20 somethings) have been up to since they finished high school and left our youth group. A lot of people my age (late 30’s) have been getting on the community. The main reason I first got on the bandwagon was for networking. Most of the ministry people I know here locally first joined FaceBook for the same reason as me; networking.

Over the weekend, I had a note from a friend of mind who started a church a few years back in Franklin, VA with a need. The church is looking for a Worship Leader. A name popped in my head of a young man who was in our youth dept back in the 90’s who has earned a degree in music from the same college I attended so I sent him a note asking if he was looking for a church. He replied with a yes and sent me his resume. I sent my pastor friend a reply with the name of this talented young man and then forwarded his resume to him. I haven’t heard anything else regarding this but it would be cool if God opens this door for both men. If so, then FaceBook had a part of this union.

DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

I came across this story. It's an older one but has a great truth to it.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'

Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200?'

That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said.

'Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it..'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,
'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow..

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?' Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr.
Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.

Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

An E-mail Story



Below is a story I received from a friend. This is a true story. it just shows what God can do through a child.

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.'

'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.'

For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.

When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century).. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University , where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.