What are you going to do?

Hey Guys,
I’m freshly returned from conducting a retreat with several other Dog Soldiers in Kansas City. To watch men connect with God and see God work out the things in their lives that are particular to each man…… it’s just stunning. Which leads me to my first topic today, and that is that next Tuesday morning, Oct. 4^th, this year’s group of Dog Soldiers will start. I have several great guys signed up and excited to get started, and yes there is room for several more. Let me know if you are interested by replying to this email.

Now far some thoughts. I was reading an article in National Geographic’s Adventure magazine titled “How to Survive Anything” and it was more about the mental condition that you need to be able to survive a disaster be it man-made, natural, or an adventure gone awry. Do the next right thing was some good advice, rather than worrying about anything else that can go wrong. Then I came to one that said to take control. The author pointed out that Illinois has 50% more tornados than Alabama, yet far fewer people died in those tornados than in Alabama. An Ivy league school did a study on this and came to the conclusion that it was the people in Alabama’s belief in God that did them in. That they believed that there was nothing they could do about anything, so they didn’t do what they could to protect themselves from a natural disaster like that and the people in Illinois would do what they could control.

Interesting. Where is the line between God’s sovereignty and our choice? Theologians will probably argue this one until the rapture, but I would like to offer some thoughts on the idea of choice.

If you will go and pull the word choice out of the Bible, you will see two interesting ideas. One, God chooses things, us, Jerusalem, His plan; and we get to choose who we will give our hearts to. God and his ways, or ways that are not of God. Most of what you see in the old testament of God getting ticked off is because of us choosing something besides Him. He is like a jealous lover in this regard.

Proverbs, in particular, asks us to choose wisdom, over and over again.

So, why this in an email to men? Because your choices are what makes you a man. Or not. Every day you will have choices of what to do with your time, temptation, your reactions, what to do with your money, loving your wife or not, the list goes on and on. Being a good man involves choosing the right, or God-led choice every time, regardless of the pain, or personal cost involved. This is where courage and faith go hand in hand.

Here's to knowing that God has our back in the choices He wants us to make.

Have a great week men.

Alex

Gumption

Gumption:  boldness of enterprise; initiative or aggressiveness; guts; spunk; get-up-and-go

John, Jordan and I were sitting in my office the other day thinking great thoughts (for this is what paid religious professionals do) and discussing the finer points of gumption.  As always, we came up with more questions than answers:  Is a person born with gumption or is gumptacity developed and learned? If a person is naturally gumptous can they teach others to be the same?  How is gumptocity measured?  If Paul  (himself a veritable gumptuoso) were writing today would gumption be listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit, or would it be a spiritual gift? Did Forrest Gump’s name inspire gumptiousness in him?

All these questions notwithstanding, we know that gumption is a good thing.  Gumption is what made Abraham leave his family and people to go to a land God would show him.  Gumption brought Moses before Pharaoh.  It compelled David to attack Goliath.  It helped Jeremiah boldly proclaim unpopular truth.  Gumption is what the early church prayed for when the foundations of their building shook.

It’s what made my friend Greg, an out-of-work business analyst, deliver pizza to make ends meet.  It’s what enables a widower to stay involved in church and other activities when he’d rather hold his wife’s picture and cry.  It’s the thing that makes a business owner keep moving when things are looking bad.  It’s what carries the college student through to graduation.  It enables parents to never stop praying for their children.  It moves a person from the couch across the finish line of a marathon.

Get gumption.

Gumptitiously Yours,
Brian

How to Go to Church

Going to church is kind of like CPR—if it works there’s no wrong way to do it.  However, there are methods which, if followed, will increase the effectiveness of CPR.  Those who save the most lives with CPR follow a certain procedure.  It’s the same with going to church—those who benefit the most and who have the most influence in the lives of others on Sunday morning approach the event with a great deal of intentionality and purpose.

Here are a few tips to maximize your Sunday morning worship with the body of Christ:

1.    Church starts Saturday night—when you’re asleep.  If you’re still going strong after midnight chances are your time with the church won’t be what it could be if you get a good night’s sleep.  Go to bed!!!

2.       Simple math saves day!  If church starts at 10:45, what time will Johnny have to wake up, shower, eat breakfast, get dressed, get the kids ready, get everyone in the car, make the drive, check the kids into children’s ministry, and ride the shuttle to the club to be there 5 minutes early?  This is not a difficult problem—a few simple calculations can change your life.

3.       Remember—it’s not about you.  The beautiful paradox is that when we make churchnot about us, we receive a greater blessing.  But if we enter into worship with a consumer mentality, and concerned that we get our needs met, we’re missing something.  Often on Sunday morning I see my friend, Richard, just standing in the gym looking around.  I know what he’s up to.  He’s talking to God, asking who it is he needs to connect with, to pray for, to encourage.  Richard enters worship with a heart to serve, not to be served.  Let’s all do that!

4.       Fully engage, and allow others to do the same.  When you walk through the doors, let your thoughts fly to the throne of Christ.  If someone is on the stage, focus and allow yourself to be led by them in worship.

We have precious little time together on Sunday mornings.  Let’s make every minute count.

Brian

Country Music

Preaching Country Music

I was listening to a newer country song the other day that was talking about the voices that the singer hears in his head all the time. Words from his grandfather to not drink too much, Mom telling him to tithe, and other significant people in his past and the advice that they gave him all the time.

So, my question to you is what voices do you hear in your head? It’s all well and great to get nostalgic about things you remember loved ones telling you, but where do those OTHER voices come from? The ones that tell you that you are dumb, an idiot, a screw up? Where do they come from and what do you do with the message of those voices? You really need an answer to those questions in your life, if you intend on being the man you want to be.

Rom. 8:1 tells us that there is no commendation for those who are in Christ. So, the voice of God is never condemning. If you hear a voice telling you how sorry you are, that’s not God. Which leads me to another new country song that I love by Miranda Lambert.

The chorus goes like this:

'Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine / And I bet we'd get along just fine / He could calm a storm and heal the blind / And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine /

I just love the thought of there not being anything Jesus can’t accomplish and the inner workings of my being aren’t any surprise or problem for Him! He understands. Don’t believe me, just ask Him. Ask Him which of those voices are His and what you need to do about it.

Strength for the Battle to you guys!

Alex