Making Good Choices by Fred Smith

I couldn't believe how good these thoughts from Fred Smith fit into today. Especially with the confusing diatribe from Florida coach Urban Meyer. I encourage you to subscribe to his weekly thoughts that his family keeps alive. Contact info is below his postings.

I am always interested in going back to basic truths. Theories come and go ---- one is popular until replaced by the latest and greatest. I remember the detergents used by Mary Alice --- they were always “new and improved.” Fundamental truths never have to be bigger and better --- they are real from the git-go, as they say in Tennessee.

One of the basics I enjoy studying is the question: “Where is your ego based?” I find with many men, their ego is satisfied more by their business than by their family. This motivation drives them to spend way more time at work than at home. Somehow they feel they have stronger possibilities and authority in the office.

I asked a friend why he didn’t retire. He said, “At the office I have seventeen buttons on my desk. I can push any of them and something happens. Fred, at home I don’t even have one!” This is a pretty honest statement of ego. I am not advocating this kind of ego control --- but it exists and we need to look at the facts.

Ego drives production. For me, it took a long time to understand the relationship between production and family relations. When I was about 60, it occurred to me I tried to run the family like I ran the business. I actually thought in terms of org charts and line responsibilities. I failed to understand one critical fact: in the family, relation IS the production.

This was hard for me. I made a conscious decision to shift my view of family, but man alive, it wasn’t easy. I was right there if Mary Alice or one of the children wanted to talk about a personal development program. I would get right with it. If they wanted to watch TV, that was too relational for me. Then, I realized : relation is the production.

I’m doing my best, but I will tell you – when you make a major change in your life, it’s very difficult. All of your reflexes, your habits, your thought patterns, and your experiences are altered. It is almost like a Christian conversion ---- you have to become a new person. But, the shift is worth it. I may feel more productive in the office, but I know this is a long term investment of great value. And, you don’t give up accomplishment for relation because they’re not opposed to each other. You simply understand what is primary and what is secondary.

The pay day for me is a drawing I keep on my wall, given to me by my granddaughter. It says, “My grandfather is interested in many things, but best of all, he loves me.”

This week seriously consider: 1) Where is my heart --- at home or at the office? 2) How do I honestly define production? 3) What does my priority list look like?

Words of Wisdom: “In the family, relation IS the production.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family.” (2 Chronicles 16:43 NET Bible)

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By Faith

This morning in our Bible Study class we got back into Hebrews 11 and I circled all the By Faith's in my NASB. It also helped to have a missionary in our class speaking today about his travels around the world and him giving us stories of people oppressed and in danger of losing their lives for following Jesus Christ.

By Faith.....so how is your faith? Is worry and this world winning out on your thought life? How are your actions affecting the world around you? are their any actions?

Are you involved in making positive change in the time you have here?

If you have faith you are called by the Holy Spirit within you to a greater story. A group of good friends of mine meet on Friday mornings and they are studying EPIC by John Eldridge right now. I was amazed at how this ties into Donald Miller's "Thousand Miles in a Million Years," book.

By Faith is written to give us remembrance of the great men/women (Rahab) of the faith in Hebrews 11 that they conquered kingdoms, adminstered justice, and gained what was promised. The verse continues with some of the unpleasant things that happened to them too.

Today I see more people affected by this economy than ever in my life. People without jobs, places they have never been before. While I can comfort them and reassure them as I have been there before, it still doesn't get them one of Maslow's basic needs which is security.

I think alot of it has to do with our world view today. What do you need to live off of? I will ask men unemployed what is essential for your family to pay the big bills coming up? We believe I think that we need more. We are taught from a young age to have, appearances, staying up with the Joneses. To have a house like everyone else, even if we can't afford it. Cars that we can't pay for etc....

These men in Hebrews didn't have all that clutter drowning out the Holy Spirit. They had little in most instances or even gave it up. ( See Paul, Peter etc) Because they had a life changing experience that focused them on Christ and not the World. Off of them onto others, to a better story. The best and biggest story of our world, the changing of a man or woman's heart by coming to faith in Jesus Christ. He is watching us right now looking at us and wondering what we will do BY FAITH and leave an impact and not an impression on this world.

So here are three thoughts I am working on over the holidays. 1) De-Cluttering to allow more focus time on God 2) Spend intentional time with older men to disciple me more --time moves too fast. 3) Spend time in prayer to ask the Lord to show me where He is working that I can join Him in making a better story of His story and His name in 2010.....

Love to hear yours. May God bless you and walk with you along the way to show you more of Him in these last days....He is wanting too oh, he is wanting to show you and me more of Him and His creation and we miss it.....let's focus on Him more and less of us....

Travel Thoughts

This last weekend a friend of one of our girl's invited her to their Trunk or Treat event at a church in Lookout Valley. (named this as it is in the valley at the bottom of Lookout Mtn. Ga/Tn) as I drove her there I noticed the color of the trees and relished it. Beautiful reds, yellows and browns mixed in....wanted to soak it all in as I would be flying out Monday and knew they would be gone soon.

Arriving @ Philly airport on Monday morning with a business friend and on the way to our company's south Jersey headquarters there they were again! Their leaves were popping at the same time. Beautiful.

Setting up this past week's product camp takes about two months of plodding and planning to get ready. From restaurant menus for dinners to making sure the presentations are loaded on flash drives to travel arrangements there are details and more details.

It is always good that first morning to see it all begin and then shocking as it all comes to and end so soon two days later.

I am thankful to God for his holy spirit that guides me to remind me of things, to help me think ahead, to "pop" an idea in my mind that came from nowwhere but will make a real difference in something yet not even happening yet.

It was so good to see our CEO after a terrible year smile and say the worst is over. His leadership has been tremendous. He has one year left till he has to retire (company policy) and our owner is such a special man. Grown up in our business and loves it so. His love and passion for his company have made it special. His love for the Phillies was evident this week.

I love it when John Maxwell says that no one has ever accomplished anything of importance without someone's help. For this training event I depend on caterers, transportation, hotels (love Hampton Inn's Jeanne Wood in Swedesboro, NJ- she is awesome!) company facilities people on set up, tear down, presenters to help educate, and much more.

The things I have learned doing five of these now will help me in putting together any event. Especially those at the church.

But, the best part of the week was reading Don Miller's new book, "A Thousand Miles in A Million Years." Simply wonderful. I urge you to get a copy today.

I am working on a better story now in my life due to Don's book. So should you.

New Commandment's Herb Reese is coming to Chattanooga!

BridgeBuilders is proud to welcome Herb Reese of New Commandment Ministries of Colorado to Woodland Park for a special event on Saturday morning, January 23rd, 2010 from 8:30am until 11:00am centered around the biblical calling to men to care for widows, fatherless, immigrants or distressed persons within the family of the church.

“As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10a

“Do not take advantage of a widow or orphan. If you do, they will cry out to me and I will certainly hear their cry. “ “He (God) defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18

Here is what Herb Reese will be discussing and reviewing:

*The difference between kind gestures and Christ's love.
*The three unique qualities of Christ's love.
*The role of good works in the Christian life.
*God's heart for those in distress.

*An alternate model for smaller churches.
*How to organize teams.
*Recommended policies.
*Suggestions for service projects.
*Frequently Asked Questions.*And more!


There are three ways to register you and your group for this free event.

First, contact Woodland Park by calling 423.899.9186 x102 and registering

or e-mail at men@woodlandpark.org

Last but not least you can register for this free event straight on the web @ this link: http://newcommandment.eventbrite.com/

The Symbol of Freedom

There is a marvelous freedom we have as a Christian, and the symbol for that freedom is the Cross.

Many people, including some of the smartest to ever live, have failed to see this freedom. And those that will not look, seem to say the same thing over and over again, and the symbol for their philosophy is a circle. This circle has no way out, they are stuck. One of the wisest men of the bible, Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes illustrates this circular philosophy when he said, “there is nothing new under the sun, everything is vanity of vanities.” From within this circle there is no way for this truth of freedom to get in or get out.

I heard someone say, “things are no longer black and white, but have become gray. We no longer live in a world where there is just one right answer, but many right answers”. Our search for truth and freedom, when searched from within ourselves or from the wisdom of men, seems to always lead to a relevant truth, or this circular motion of no absolutes. Everything becomes gray and blurred.

This colorless life, this life that is gray and blurred, looks like this: We get up, we go to work, we go home, we eat, we go to bed, and then we do the same thing the next day, then the next, and so on, with no hope or meaning. We go from one activity to the next looking for and end to this drudgery, only to find we need another activity, and then another. This kind of life is like a treadmill that sucks the very life out of us. It’s easy for anyone, including the Christian, to find themselves on this treadmill.

I know, I’ve found myself on this treadmill many times. What’s the answer? I have to refocus, I have to renew my mind, I have to look at the Cross again a little closer, then a little closer. I find no end of what can be discovered there!

The cross is not a gray circular motion, it’s not a treadmill. At the heart of the cross we find a freedom not found anywhere else. This freedom is moving forward, upward and outward with no ends. A freedom of imagination and creativity, a freedom of discovery, a freedom of a continuous change in who we are and who we are becoming. A continuous discovery of truth, an absolute truth, that is not grayed or blurred. The truth always becomes clearer as we read and reread God’s word, and as the Holy Spirit brings color back into our life.

The way of the cross is not a dead end of repetitious actions, but it opens up into a wonderland of possibilities. Our life becomes a journey, a great adventure! The God of the universe is taking us somewhere, He has a plan! And His plan will go on forever. In Galatians 5:1, Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. Christ broke this circle, this circle of dead ends, by being broken for us on the Cross.

The truth of this freedom can only be found in Christ. Look again with me and see…..

Hank, the back pain is better today, thanks for praying brother! God bless..

Grace by any other name

Treatise on Grace by Jonathan Edwards (excerpt)

'Tis common for us to speak of various graces of the Spirit of God as though they were so many different principles of holiness, and to call them by distinct names as such, —repentance, humility, resignation, thankfulness, etc. But we err if we imagine that these in their first source and root in the heart are properly distinct principles. They all come from the same fountain, and are, indeed, the various exertions and conditions of the same thing, only different denominations according to the various occasions, objects, and manners, attendants and circumstances of its exercise. There is some one holy principle in the heart that is the essence and sum of all grace, the root and source of all holy acts of every kind, and the fountain of every good stream, into which all Christian virtues may ultimately be resolved, and in which all duty and [all] holiness is fulfilled.

Grace this weekend was the fact that God saw fit to let my father in law have a small stroke. One that he is going to be fine from, happened why he was at home. Best time of day and with all of us nearby to assist. Have been thinking about how much he means to our family and the impact he has had on me and our children. We are all better for knowing him. I am thankful that he knows Jesus and that he loves Him.

So how is that looking for you as a man? How are you impacting those around you? Can they say that being around you has made them a better person? Do you have any relationships that go deep and not just surface relationships?

I have been praying for different brothers I know without jobs, in a life change and Gary put it real well this past week. (He co-blogs on here with me) He has been suffering from back pain and he said that it is awful hard to focus off of self when you are in pain. So true.

Think about God. Think about your situation, Talk to Him about it. Give the pain to Him, You only have one shot at this fallen world. You and I need to run the race well as Paul encouraged us too. I look at those Christians in the New Testament and even during the tough economic times we go thru now, it is nothing compared to them.

May we enjoy this time, push thru to the next side and take many with us!

The picture above is our new mascot @ Oakwood Christian Academy. He made his debut at the first home game two weeks ago. GO EAGLES! It is good to see the twins enjoying friends and athletics. Fletcher starts keeping the scoreboard this week and Sarah Beth was a whiz working the concession stand last week with her mom. Being six she can almost make you buy anything!

Me? I was just glad to be able to get away from work and make the games. Two this week.

Happy Labor Day ! May God Bless you and encourage you today to get into His Word, see how much He has loved you and I and what we can do while here to make a difference!

Selah.

Wisdom's Source

Proverbs 8

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me,and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields,or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates,waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Paul wrote almost 1000 years later these words to the Colossian church in the Lycus valley, located in modern day Turkey, that wisdom is found in Christ.

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

This reminder from Paul, and this wisdom in Proverbs, and the Word that became flesh in John’s gospel, has always been and will always be, Christ. Christ was God in the flesh and is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord to His glory. Amen.

Being A Man Today- Revisited

The above photo is from Stand In the Gap with Promise Keepers. I am about three screens back. Wonder what kind of turn out will be in Washington on 9/12? Different type of crowd, different motivations, but needed to show concern for direction of our nation.

This week Man in the Mirror asked a question about men today in the churches across America and I thought I would share.

Look at the article and see what you can relate to:

When you look at the men in your church, do you see men leading powerful lives? We all know there is a "men problem." In Matthew 22:29, Jesus, told some confused religious leaders, "The problem is that you do not know the Scriptures and you do not know the power of God." In other words, knowledge leads to power. The journey to biblical manhood has a reference point -- a true north -- the word of God. That's where the power is. So, what does the word of God say about biblical manhood? The journey to biblical manhood can be summarized in many ways. One of the best summaries is Romans 12:2: So do not conform any longer to the beliefs and customs of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you will be able to understand what God's perfect will is for your life (paraphrase). Transformation includes a cluster of concepts like discipleship, following Christ, maturity, becoming complete, obedience, spiritual growth, and similar concepts. Biblical manhood is an amalgamation of "transformed" relationships, roles, characteristics, qualities, priorities, purposes, and tasks. All the books in the world still cannot capture the full mystery of what it means to be a man, but here is a snapshot of the kind of men we are trying to produce: He loves God, loves others, builds the kingdom, and tends the culture (the four universal purposes for all men). In his role as a husband and father, he is the family prophet, priest, and king. He must be born again, then equipped with the knowledge of God and his ownspiritual gifts (among other things), then sent to live for Christ through love andservice. Along the way, he learns how to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, experiencing the fruit of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He becomes part of the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, andjoy in the Holy Spirit. He receives grace that leads to humility and contentment. His growth and transformation qualifies him to be a spiritual leader anddisciple maker. The outcomes of his life match the outcomes that the church needs -- a faithfulwitness, steward, worshiper, worker, husband, father, citizen, teacher, andleader. He is like the man Paul describes in Romans 15:14, "full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and able to instruct one another." This is a picture (panegyric) of a spiritually powerful man. It is the kind of man we want to produce. I'm sure you can think of other desirable outcomes. So what's the point? In your church do you have the vision, determination, and sustainable strategy to produce these kinds of men? To have men in your church living defeated lives is to betray them. Why would God give any church more men if they are not faithfully discipling the men they are already have? So let's get organized. We can do this.

Yours for changed lives, Patrick Morley, PhD

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Christian Classic Etheral Library had this note in my monthly news from them and thought I would share this. Neat.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Thomas O. Chisholm

"There is no circumstantial background for Great Is Thy Faithfulness," writes its author, Thomas O. Chisholm. He goes on to say that it was simply the result of his "morning by morning realization of God's personal faithfulness." Chisholm wrote the text in Vineland, New Jersey, in 1923, and sent it to his friend William M. Runyan, who composed the tune. Set to FAITHFULNESS, the text was published in Runyan's Songs of Salvation and Service (1923). "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is a vibrant testimony to the faithfulness of God, a testimony Chisholm reaffirmed in 1941:

I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that he has given me many wonderful displays of his providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.

Do you see this in your life? Are you going thru something tough right now? Don't give up, don't let up but get more time in the Word, more time letting God know how you feel and most importantly let know close relationships suffer.

Cover it all in the Love of Christ......great is His faithfulness

David Murrow -via Skype in Chattanooga!

Arlen Byrd's notes from the last Chattanooga Area Alliance for Men’s Ministry dinner. Many thanks to Arlen for these really good minutes. MacClellan Foundation on sponsoring a great night and the 100 plus men that attended. Bernie and the hard work setting it all up. Next Meeting September 17th. Make plans to join us!

009-07 CAAMM meeting notes

Discuss

• How is the Spiritual thermostat setting you see in your church? Discuss at your tables while you eat.
• Comfort (always be nice), Confrontation (sins to avoid), Ceremony, Conformity, Control, Challenge
• We may see these themes in the speaker’s presentation tonight.

In our group:

• Sometimes we are friendly with ourselves and we don’t reach out beyond our circle
• The comfort zone that people have – that permeates all that people do – if we’re not comfortable with a tradition or a teaching, we avoid it – or if we are too comfortable, we hide in it
• With comfort we are not challenged
• If I am being challenged and called to use my talents and gifts, it helps me to find my place and develop that sense of worth and belonging
• If you ask for volunteers, no one will except those that always do – you have to know people and ask them individually based on their strengths and abilities

Dave’s presentation

Introduction by Doug:

• The idea of coming together is to be encouraged, share vision, and fellowship together
• About a year ago I read this book, Why Men Hate Going to Church
• “When it comes to spiritual matters, societies always follow the lead of men. Today’s men are focused on the secular, so today’s culture is focused on that as well. Unless Christianity engages men, Christianity will continue to wane.” . . .
• The answer is through the local church, to engage men and help them to embrace their true purpose and calling
• [bio read by Doug] – get this from him

Dave begins:

• Are you a denominational group? (No)
• Normally whenever I speak to groups of men I am there in person, of course, and I bring a powerpoint of lots of humorous things – men falling asleep in church, being forced to hold hands, etc – these things turn men off
• I’m going to talk about the gender gap
• 61% female and 39% male (adults) – little boys haven’t had the chance to quit yet
• Youth – juniors and seniors – 70% girls – almost all the young missionaries that go overseas are female – YWAM (Youth with a mission) – usually the only thing that brings men back is marrying a woman who drags them to church
• I wrote my book to call attention to this problem – practically every church in the world has more women than men. Overseas the problem is even worse – China, the Philippines, Africa. Then I get letters from women who read my second book and they say there are basically no Christian men to marry in their entire country.
• There is a joke the women tell about Christian men – Christian men are like parking spaces – the good ones are already taken or they are handicapped
• So I launched church for men so men could find resources for what is working in men’s ministry
• I’m not a big men’s ministry fan – our solution is always to start a program. I’m not advocating that. The men aren’t very interested, you do a lot of work, and then in 2 years it falls apart.
• Instead, what I advocate is to take all your existing services and to look at it through the eyes of a young man – is there anything that would engage them
• This is not just marketing – when you look at Jesus Christ, he called 12 men to his side
• I still believe the key is to engage the younger men at a gut level and your church will grow
• The mega churches, they all started with a group of younger men – they were engaged – what happens when you engage them, the women come too – nothing more attractive to a godly woman than a godly man
• The bottom line – when I advise churches, your men’s ministry is your church service, your youth group, your regular programming that you are already doing. Unless it has a masculine feel the men will become disengaged.
• One thing I like to show is a picture of my wife riding around in a tank at Promise Keepers in New Zealand. She was so excited about that, all happy to be in this tank. Women love guy things. I have another picture of a thing I show with me holding a purse. What do you feel like when your wife asks you that? Men are horrified by that.
• So, if we create an environment where the top priority is love, acceptance, warm and fuzzy, the women will love it, but the men will say get me out of here.
• If you create a masculine environment, everyone will like it – men, women, children
• If you want to see the presentation in full, you can order my presentation on DVD on my website
• I’ll see before I get to Q & A, I think it was mentioned that I am currently working for Sarah Palin – she will no longer be governor in 9 days – it has it’s perks

Bernie:

• We’ll collect the cards
• I’m reminded of the all inclusive men’s ministry ideas of Pat Morley. You are tying right into this, no man left behind.

• Question – what are some man things for church?
• Answer – the music is an easy way to begin – you know hymnals, those things you can get on eBay, they have a lot of good stuff in them. Onward Christian Soldiers, and others. Now we have mostly Jesus love songs. Back in the day it was more balanced. So what I’m really talking about is the lyrics more than the style. Another thing, men are visual, so they believe what they see. Flowers, needlepoint banners, quilts, this and that. Guys hang out where there is competition in the air, dark, etc. It just doesn’t have that warm, nursing home kind of feel. The way we talk – Christians tend to talk in an insider language. I tell Pastors when they pray, anybody really, we like to go in a strange language. We say “Let’s pray … Father God … Father, God”. If we read the Psalms, it’s like “crush my enemies under my feet.” I just encourage people to talk to God like they would a real person. We don’t have to do this smarmy kind of thing. We often make it so those who don’t feel like they really have the verbal experience can’t pray in Church. We want to make it real so they feel adequate to pray themselves.
• Bernie – so how can we provide that, a place where they can see what this is like, and what risks must I be willing to take as a pastor or leader to see the guys talk to God like a real person?
• Dave – if you are the Pastor, start small with a few guys. Teach the men in that group. We’re going to pull up an empty chair for God. We’re going to talk to God as a real person without our eyes closed. All this religion stuff stratisfies the church. You want the guys to know that they can talk to God and engage with him. Humble yourself, reject your power to be religious, and choose not to use this skill to be better than your guys. When we see Pastors relating to guys on a regular level and with God, the guys really respond to that.
• Bernie – any other ways to break out of that?
• Dave – I have a book coming out soon called The Map. I see a pattern in scripture, a series of three great journey’s in life. I’m working on a discipleship journey to complement it. If you’ve been in a Bible study group, guys sit around the circle, read in the Bible, eat chips, fill in blanks or even Bibles. With Jesus I see a teacher who lead the men through experiences. So with what we are providing, 20-25 experiences. We haven’t tried this yet, we don’t have the lessons written yet, but hopefully we’ll be helping to take men through this Map process. Personally, I’m just sick to death of our sit in a circle, read from Bibles and eat chips kind of approach. I want to get out in the community and make a change.
• Bernie – what are those three journey’s?
• Dave – sure, in Matthew’s gospel, scholars don’t think this is blow by blow chronology. So why did he choose the chronology he did? The theme you see is submission, giving up his power, in the wilderness, then the sermon on the mount – if you stopped there, you’d see a very wimpy Jesus. If you look at all the lives of the great men, you see this period of submission though. Moses, Joseph, David, etc. After you turn the corner and come off the mountain in chapter 8, you see a completely different thing. Rebuking, casting out demons. From submission to strength. From Matthew 26-28, he kind of goes wimpy on us again. They arrest him, allow him to be beaten, he doesn’t stand in his own defense. So this journey is sacrifice. If you look at all the great men you see this in some form. Those who didn’t, their lives ended very badly. We’re using these three journey’s to disciple our men and then challenge them to disciple other men.
• Bernie – thank you. I can also see that process in the way Jesus discipled his men.

• Question – how do you motivate a man?
• Answer – it depends on what you are motivating him to do. If you are trying to get him into teaching a Sunday school, you may not have success. But you need to understand who he is, his strengths and potential and help him to get involved with that. Get him into a small group where he can develop friendships and be engaged personally. If you think about it, the way we disciple our men, if they aren’t good readers, then they can’t become disciples, they are unacceptable. That tears my heart out. I can’t see Jesus doing that.

• Question – how would you compare/contrast the kind of men Jesus chose with the kind of men we see today? His men had probably been prepared.
• Answer – everyone wants an Acts 2 church. But first there was a Luke 10 church (72 disciples), a Luke 8 church (12 disciples and women with Jesus), Luke 6 (12 disciples). Next week in Dallas I’m going to present that, an idea about church planting. You start with 12 men and you disciple them intently for a year, and then after that year those 12 get into pairs and disciple more. Once you have 84 men, the church is full. You don’t allow any more men to come in. If Jesus could only handle 84 men, what makes us think we can handle 15,000. So many men have no one to disciple them, they just go through the motions, but they are lost. What I am proposing is a church where every man is being personally discipled by someone else. Do you think that church is going to be able to do great things?
• I have a website for this, not up yet, but it will be – once the book comes out in March. www.threejourneys.com. I don’t know if it will work or not, but I am praying about it.

• Question – has Jesus been feminized? How can we present him as a King and Warrior.
• Answer – if you think about it, when do unchurched men come to church the most. Easter, Christmas and mother’s day. Beat up victim, a baby, or loving his mother. We have a lot of work to man Jesus back up to what he really is. One of the ways people have changed this is by drawing pictures of Jesus toughed up. We just need balance, just let the text speak for itself. We need balance. Don’t soft pedal Jesus between Matthew 8 and 25. We need to preach that as well as the softer Jesus, the full picture. It’s like building a house: the foundation is the submission, the mid level is the strength, the roof is the sacrifice. You mostly see the middle part, but they are all important.

• Question – how has working for governor Palin this last month affected your faith?
• Answer – I feel blessed to be here at this point of time, being in the national eye, working for a kind of celebrity, but the big things going on are what is going on in the spiritual world. What is really going to matter is what is done for Christ. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster and I haven’t gotten much sleep, but it has helped me to realize that what really matters is not the New York Times, but the spiritual battle and realm.
• Bernie – thank you, let’s give him a round of applause.

Discussion lead by Hank

• Like I said, he talks about the spiritual thermostat settings in the book. What do you see in your church?
• Answer: a lot of what we see is just trying to make folks comfortable, we’re glad they are here, we don’t want to run them off. That mixed in with the ceremony. I don’t think we take into consideration hardly at all what it looks like to them.
• Answer: we have a tendency to put us at a lower point – how well we speak, talk, we discourage them. What he touched on there about going out and getting other men connected outside of the church, what we really need to do is look at the heart of people and not just try to pack the church.
• Answer: we have a tendency of talking down on Christians that are not like us, O you drug addict, how bad you are. It’s how you approach or confront that individual, sometimes we have a way of running of members or people that would join your church. Church is a spiritual hospital for a lot of people, we need to remember that.
• Answer: one of my pet peeves is sitting in a service where whoever is speaking waxes eloquent about the deficits or sins of another competitive minister, church or denomination. It not only makes me feel anxious, but I wonder if there are men or even women who are in the church who are not long time church people who may not be familiar with what they are talking about and it doesn’t help the kingdom of God.
• Answer: the church I’m a part of is the challenging church. It’s everything that goes on in our church – Pastor and men’s ministry – not to keep it in the church, but to take it outside. How do we reach the men who have nothing to do with the church. We need to find out where they are at, what they are doing, learn who they are, and if we know where they are at we have a place to start. A lot of the men in our church have the same heart – we are challenged on a daily basis, not to look down on someone, but to find out where a person’s heart is, because it isn’t the outward performance or appearance that matters, it is the heart. Then we can go and disciple them.
• Hank – divorce rate is at 55%, there are so many men who want to know Christ. The last thermostat Dave takes us to is the challenge. Men need things to be challenged for. For this particular moment in time, just like the times of Peter and Paul, you and I, this is our time for Christ. I don’t know about you, I want to be excited and live my time here for Christ, always advancing and never declining. We are here at the particular time and our time is now. We need to look at the church and see how we can adjust the thermostat to see how we can become mighty men of God.

Opportunities:

• No Man Left Behind books
• Fish magazine
• October 9-10 – discipleship training session at Brainerd Baptist Church – outstanding speakers – brainerdbaptist.org
• Flag Football, recreational ministry of Chamberlin Memorial Baptist – sign up by July the 31st, teams formed August 1, the first game is September 12
• Iron Sharpens Iron – we had been looking at a biblical model of how we can assist the widows, orphans, shut-ins and single moms. Over the past few months we have been working as a team with Herb – New Commandment Ministry. He will be coming January 23rd (Saturday) that morning. We’re piloting 4 teams right now, we have identified people within our body to begin with. We understand that men like to do and to be men of action, and we understand we are to take care of people. It’s an exciting time and a great opportunity to live as men, fulfilling our design.
• You must RSVP, register in advance. Register on www.mensministry.org. We’ll put that link up ASAP and you can start registering now. Our guest that night will be live, Hal Haden, he’s with Christian Leadership Concepts, he is faithfully plugging away discipling men and challenging and helping them to do the same. The question I have for you is who will you invite? Bring someone else. Jesus sent them out 2 by 2, why do we go out 1 by 1. If you are already here, make a contact with another church down the street. Let’s see what God wants to do to change the Chattanooga area.

New direction

• What’s in a word or a name – Chattanooga Area Coalition of Men’s Ministries – there are many others like that. There was a typo in an article, but perhaps it is helpful. The Chattanooga Area Coalition for Men’s Ministry. But maybe that is good. Are we here FOR men’s ministry or to just be OF men’s ministry. When you tell most folks, when you are for men’s ministry, most women are excited, they say God bless you, we are for that. Let’s stand up and be FOR men’s ministry. Ministries is a noun. But ministry is a verb. We are for action, that’s what it says. We are for changing the lives of men. But as I thought about that, what about one more change. Chattanooga Area Alliance for Men’s Ministry. A coalition is specifically temporary. An alliance is a close association for a common objective. Let’s get to know some other men outside of our own church who have a common heart for men’s ministry. So who are we? The Chattanooga Area Alliance for Men’s Ministry.
• [purpose]
• [vision]
• We want your feedback on this. This is just a draft.
• We are trained to present the gospel, so we know how to give the message, but our own life is not transformed, so the messenger does not give the clear message.
• Relationship – developing authentic relationships, not just resources. If people are just given resources and not brought into a relational process we will not see transformation.
• What if we saw ourselves as that kind of an alliance [ . . . ]
• We’re on that journey, but can we help each other on it?
• We’d like your feedback. If you don’t like it, tell me. If God’s in it, he’ll change it. This is what we sense God saying to us. If you like it, I’d like to hear from you to.
• With that, any questions?
• Comment: we have got to reach out beyond just Chattanooga

Wrap up with Bernie

• Tell me what elements you see on the back of the sheet that we were focusing on tonight.
• Answer: The man code
• Where is the message we tell them about where they fit, what this is about. Stepping back and looking at how we come across in our services, in our youth groups. Are young men made to feel a vital part of that, that all inclusive ministry to men, how well that ties back in. I’m not pitching the No Man Left Behind book as the end all model, but I think it really is on target. It’s as well written in my 28 year’s of men’s ministry as anything I’ve seen on this topic. I did want to put 4 things on this diagram that I want to see added to or enhanced, unpacked and made more specific.
  1. Knowing where most men are, where they are starting from. If you try to jump ahead and meet them where they are not at, you will miss them. They will feel like they don’t fit in here, like they are in the downward spiral, the issue of what it is to be an authentic man is the starting point, what God’s blueprint is. You can try to motivate and tug at him and he will maybe give you a little bit for a little while, but it won’t get there without starting there.
  2. A core process for getting guys there – like what we were talking about this relating to Matthew
  3. Two others too
• We’re kicking around ideas about how to take things further. So if you’d like to come together for a few weeks to enhance this and take it deeper, we have a pilot group, and we’d like to have you join us, just give us your contact information. We’re praying about that – not pushing it, just hatching it.
• I hope you are picking up the theme, those who have been here on other occasions – disciple men, build deeply into a few so they can multiply. That is how Jesus did it, and that is how we will build the Church and change the world we are in.

Vacation Bible School is complete for 2009

Well, a number of leaders said, do they have any shirts that say "I Survived VBS?"

Woodland Park's children ministry put on a great week of singing, drama, games and teaching about God's word this week.

Fletcher and I helped with the 2nd grade boys and girls. Ms. Karen and Ms. Esther. (I called her Queen Esther) did a great job and I taught one night.

Talking with our children's pastor last night and he said that 13 kids had professed faith in Christ during the week and that is awesome.

Brynna and Corley helped this week to and Sarah Beth just got thru giving me her own VBS show to the songs she learned this week.

This is nothing against VBS, because it is alot of work and is well done. The number of volunteers were tremendous. My comment involves how feminized certain things such as crafts are a boy/girl type thinking. It is noticeable the absence of men helping with this too.

VBS is really a feminine type program unless you have some men involved and thinking about how to bring that up for boys.

I do believe more men need to be involved in things like Sunday Schools and VBS so young men can see men serving in those areas and lock that in that it is cool, because it is!

I say that from having worked with 5th grade boys for two years in Sunday School and the impact it can have on a simple things like how to pray.........

It was exciting seeing so many kids excited about Jesus Christ. I wish the adults would be as excited on Sundays and thruout the week.........

It was a fun week. Am excited this next week about the Chattanooga Area Men's Ministry Meeting. Last day to sign up is Wednesday @ www.mensministry.org

• Joel Rosenberg has a webinar scheduled for 9/11 that you will want to be part of:

http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

• John Maxwell also "tweeted" this week that his new book for 2010 will be on improving communication. His mom is ill as well, if you would pray for her
• Former GE CEO Jack Welch is in the hospital with a severe infection. Hope he improves.....this economy is bad enough to make anyone sick
• Am on Twitter as JaxStateFan and it was fun this week to "tweet" from VBS.

We also added HD to our Directv account this week. Will blog about that next....

God Bless.

Happy Fourth of July

I hope this July Fourth finds you doing well. I hope that you will have time to set aside some time and think about the heritage of country this weekend amongst the usual celebration of fireworks and food.

This is a weird time in my life. I don't know about you, but I have never felt more powerless in what is going on in my government ever in my life. Before me the debt is more than any other time in our history, the house just passed cap and trade, Carol Browning over the EPA admitted on Fox and Friends this week she had read sections of the 1200 page bill. People legislating major changes that will never have to carry it out.

My question this week among friends is who is righting these bills? and Congress surely will not pass this bill and place such another burden on business and Americans? Surely.

We had a major melt down in several areas of responsibility with financial institutions, government and no one has accepted responsibility and stepped forward. Most all are still in power calling the shots.

The media has become more infatuated with Obama, a man that has never lead anything. Speaks well on his feet with his telepromter and hand picks questions at press conferernces now from blog sites.....

I am thankful God is in control. I am praying and asking what I should do to make a difference in this during these days. You know, when you read the bible there have always been times like these. Obama is not as bad as most of the kings in the Old Testament. We have so much in America to be proud of, so much freedom but we do need to be involved in what is happening and not just by watching Bill O' Reilly and talking about it with friends. You and I as men need to be involved in leading change and being involved in what we care about. Would you pray about that today? Many people believe they can't make a difference and that is not true at all. It all starts with one person.....you and I. May you and your family be blessed!

God Bless America!

Am now tweeting as JaxStateFan now on Twitter........just going to try it out.

2009 Drum and Bugle Corps Season is Back

Drum Corps Season is back! My 31st year of following the marching activity! Youth 15-21 years of age have been practicing since the fall and now the competitive season has started. Average corps size is over a hundred balanced with brass, drum line, pit and guard.

Cadets open their 75th anniversary season in Annapolis, MD tonight with a win over Carolina Crown. I am still not sure about that win. Crown's hornline is fantastic and Cadets left open the ending for a classic "Z" pull if I have ever seen it. I believe this will be like last year with Crown surpassing Holy Name Cadets. Carolina Crown is representing Fort Mill, South Carolina well. It is the best sounding horn line I have heard and that is alot of hornlines.

Blue Devils beat Santa Clara Vanguard last night in Clovis, CA but SCV's show was really good. They had the nicest moment at the end on Simple Gifts by Copland. Crowd was on their feet. Too many corps are playing Copland this year though......

Drum Corps International's Fan Network is a neat thing to be able to watch video of shows all across America as they happen now. A long way since I started following the activity in 1978.

Phantom Regiment is below warming up before their debut show. Let's see if they can defend their title this year in Indianapolis @ Lucas Field.....Please pray for the more than 60 drum and bugle corps as they travel this summer and practice doing what they love for crowds all over the country. There are a number of my friends I went to college with kids now that are marching.

http://v2.thefannetwork.org/?network_id=1&ensemble_id=5936&vod_id=8c79d7ee-400e-40ab-94df-0fb2e3b86ad6&mode=viral

Sunday update:

Great Father's Day Weekend. Only thing missing is Fletcher and he is at camp in Gatlinburg with our Student Ministry. Louie Giglio, David Crowder Band and Steven Fee leading worship.

The girl's have been so sweet with their gifts today and we celebrated @ Outback with Patrice. Brynna made me a beautiful stand up card, (she is so creative!) Corley wrote me a beautiful poem, (she has that Humphrey touch with words in print) and Sarah gave me some things she loves which is so sweet.

I took them down to the Creative Discovery Museum on Saturday to see the new Curious George exhibit. Great time. They have someone working the theatre area with the kids till 3pm and he was great. Sarah Beth was in two plays and did well for on the spot acting. It was funny all the parents were having fun watching the kids on stage. Sarah had Brynna paint her face into a cat.

CDM is a great asset to the city and downtown was bustling. We ended the trip @ Ben and Jerry's so that Sarah Beth could have some sorbet. (she has alot of allergies) even saw the Southern Belle go by on the river. Hot Day though. Cold Stone Creamery was so full, we went then to Ben and Jerrry's and hit them before another crowd came in. They were selling some ice cream....

New Ministry

We had a meeting to begin a new BridgeBuilder ministry Saturday morning with some men from Woodland Park that will be focusing on widows, elderly and single moms. Great beginning meeting to pilot four teams. To God Be the glory after much prayer and discussion it has started. We will meet next month and begin to minister on projects. Many thanks to Herb Reese's New Commandment Men's Ministry from his visit back last year @ Iron Sharpens Iron to present this idea and Charles Fricks bringing it the ministry council for review. We will work in our pilot groups this summer and fall and then have Herb Reese in Chattanooga on Saturday, January 23rd to open it to all men of Woodland Park and churches in the Chattanooga area.

Men's Fraternity

Great time being had at work with 14 men going thru Men's Fraternity "Quest for Authenthic Manhood" material. We meet at lunch {bring your own lunch}every two weeks ( time for makeups) and it is going well. Robert Burton and I had asked the Lord to allow us to have some type of meeting at work and He has blessed this. Guys, love the content and teaching from Robert Lewis and two men have mentioned starting this @ their churches with their men this fall. One friend has said that he wants to bring several churches together. Amen. Amen......Thank you Father.

May you have a great week and the Lord bless you. May you take the gifts he has given you and put them to use allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you. The harvest is plentiful and the workers will always be few.......Love God and Love People.

Hank

Advancing The Battle

Chattanooga Area Men's Ministry leaders and pastors attended dinner and a Skype session with Pat Morley of Man in the Mirror on Tuesday night at Tyner Methodist Church.
The MacClellan Foundation and Men's Ministry Network along with some good grub from Gollywhoppers Sandwich Shop made for an excellent evening of community and learning.
Doug Daughtery and Bernie Ritterbush hosted the evening and the spotlight was Pat Morley as he joined the group thru Skype from his home in Orlando.
Doug introduced Pat and stated that only 10% of churches across America have active men's ministries. (I think MIM has stated that only 7% have a men's ministry pastoral position in America)
Pat opened with some humor with this group by saying that today was a good hair day for him and at his age, each hair has a purpose.
He started with a story about four couples and how each of the four men in this group had issues around pornography, another woman etc and when all this shook up, did we know what the difference was? He said two marriages made it because the men had relationships in groups with men that stayed by their side.
Pat stated today that evangelism without discipleship is cruel. We have men today that don't understand Matthew 22-29..of knowing scripture and the power of the Lord.

Pat then asked what is discipleship and he used the definition he has for several years that a disciple is called, equipped and sent.
Called to to live in Christ, equipped to live like Christ and Sent to live for Christ (Serving)

Pat then quoted from his new book No Man Left Behind:
Why do many men's ministries succeed or fail ?
1) The Sr. Pastor has to have a heart and a have a vision to disciple men. This is where I love this part from NMLB. Pat says you see, you must have an all inclusive mindset. The men's ministry in your church is every man in the church. Later Pat explained this by using an example of an usher that catches this vision. As a leader in his area he should understand that he has one of the most important jobs on Sunday mornings. They can come in early before the service for about five minutes and share a brief scripture and then remember that each man ushering is helping people feel welcomed with the reason we want to help them become disciples of Christ.

2) the second thing must be determination.. It must be said by leaders that men's ministry will be important here
3) You must have a sustainable strategy. Think of how to utilize small or growth groups, have the right next step planned for each man, and tie it together.

Questions from the audience were very good, such as how do you encourage pastors to have a men's ministry? Pat had a good answer here that you must built your case thru leading and showing your calling in that area. You must ask your pastor-How can I help you? serve you? to come along side him and begin to build this.
NMLB points out that you really need a team of men to work on this so it is not all on one man's shoulders. Pat pointed out here that if the man in charge gets a promotion and leaves town, there goes the men's ministry! With a team this can be less of issue.
*Pat talked about the fact that leaders need to resemble shepherds and not teachers today. Men aren't looking for another boss, they are looking for someone to come along side them. A Shepherd does this by asking questions and communicating that they care.

Pat says the war is ongoing against this world giving a story around pornography's pull as he attended a Christian conference where they asked the men to turn in how many of them battled this and the answer was 60% of those attending the conference!
It is a real problem today. So available and so easy once a man is isolated away from friends and family. Isn't it. I always remember David Lawson's teaching on this from the Precept Men's Conference a couple of years ago where he said just flee from it! Kill it! Don't give it a chance!


-Local Ministry Resource------------Sue Moore locally has been called locally to start a ministry around this for women but is also wanting to begin men's groups in this area. Her website is www.forgivenmuch.net

It was a great evening, good to see friends there. The next meeting for CACMM will be on Thursday, July 16th @ Tyner and the guest will be David Murrow, author of the book, Why Men Hate Going to Church. This promises to be a great subject and even gives guys time to get the book and read it before David arrives. Please invite brothers that you know would be interested in this and you can contact the Men's Ministry Network @ bernie@mensministry.org

Pat's group Man in the Mirror is @ www.maninthemirror.org
Book's referenced in the meeting were Pastoring Men and No Man Left Behind

I urge men to get MIM's daily devotion guide, Equipping the Man in the Mirror, great daily devotional that I enjoy. Here is a link for that with more information:

http://www.maninthemirror.org/equippingthemaninthemirror/

Noteworthy and upcoming:

*Tom Kitsmiller mentioned at the dinner Tuesday that Brainerd Baptist Church is going to have a Discipleship Conference this fall which will feature Bill Hull. The dates are October 9th and 10th. Mark that down.

*Lee Atchley talked about CBMC and its monthly outreach luncheon. There are a number of small groups all around Chattanooga that meet. On the left under Cool Sites you will see a link you can click on for Chattanooga CBMC

*Woodland Park will be offering the Perspectives course on Sunday Nights this fall. Lots of excitement about this and also all the different teachers that will be in Chattanooga to teach at this. More information at this link for those interested in learning more about world Christian movement by attending this, especially college students for credit:

http://www.woodlandpark.org/featured/perspectives.asp

Notes from the last meeting with Bill Hull can be found below on March 22nd's blog . Note too in a follow up from that March 22nd blog that this week Ann Mulchay of Zerox has announced she is retiring. Wonder what she will do next? Run for office? If you like leadership make sure you read that Corner Office interview with her from the Superb comments she made back in March of this year.

May you have a blessed week this week.

The Future of Media and the Impact

Several days ago I was walking back from a meeting and this thought hit me and I jotted it down: Could the media's attack on marriage ( i.e. television shows) and how it is to look ....a plan by those in Hollywood to promote homosexual marriage by demeaning the current man/wife relationship?

Let me explain more. First, tell me one show on right now where the dad, husband or father figure is seen in a positive light? Now, you can probably come up with many when you think of the other side of the coin. You may say, Hank- these are comedies, they are fun. You see that is what Hollywood wants you to see. An example would be Will and Grace's show about how normal and funny homosexuals are.

There are men and women that deeply love each other all across America. Many Americans can identify with that. But, not in a sexual way. I believe the love angle is being misconstrued. There are brothers and sisters in Christ I love very much but my relationship is not of a sexual nature. God set up the hierarchy and authority angle in Genesis and it has made sense for many years. Man, has struggled with this since He is sinful. Homosexuality was addressed by Paul because it was in the culture then, Jesus didn't say anything about it because He taught off marriage between a man and woman and was talking to Jewish people who knew homosexuality was a sin and had been thru some interesting things with the McAbees to get back in alignment.

Let's look at another area in Hollywood where writers who really have no moral compass in their own lives probably much less children are to take things another step further- after all that is what you want as Americans isn't it? Reality tv?
TV Land was once a staple of programming that you could watch with your family. Not anymore. We have had the Bachelor and the Bachelorette now they are going to bring an older woman on to find a younger man and they are calling the show, The Cougar. We are about four shows away from total reality debauchery and yes, I know we are already there on some channels such as MTV and have been since Real World started and HBO is really a soft porn channel. (and they are proud of their programming)

It is hard to see any show like Cosby, Little House on the Prarie, etc. that did really well rating wise and are not showing up on the screen. Part of this probably has to do with a lot of writer's in Hollywood that are "boys' in men's clothing that haven't really grown up yet to become men. They also see it as funny to demean everyone and everything. Comedies are getting grosser more degrading, very rarily are they smarter.

Man's greed is evident too. Money is in front of any since of decency and that is sad.

There is not a single show on any station that promotes a healthy marriage between a man and woman. Not a show where the man is seen as noble, normal and that my friends I believe is part of a plan to really make it even harder for a man to see what a real man looks like. Especially impossible for younger men unless they see it around them and that can be hard as most men today are passive and not really sure what a man looks like and should act like.

You see if I can't see what that looks like I can't actually do that.

That is why this generation of men have a opportunity before them that is chance to push against what the media is pushing.

1) The first step is to make sure you aren't watching trash. Trash in/Trash out. Program the televisions in your house to block inappropraie content for you and your family.
2) Police the amount of time your kids are on media and make sure it is mixed with reading and writing. So they can actually put thoughts into words. Love what John Maxwell did with his son by rewarding him financially with $20 when he finished reading classic books and books that would help him with life.
3) Keep bringing the bible to life. Make sure your kids can see Christ in you. Make sure they see you apologize when you are wrong and that they see you love your wife and them. Remember they are not seeing this on television. On tv you are charactericatured as a kind of jokster, no too smart. Spend time with the family at the dinner table, we have family meetings usually weekly and they can be different-like last night Sarah debuted a new dance for us that was beautiful. Devotions are good to tie into life and current event assigenments are good where they have to research a current issue and talk about it.
4) Read and apply the bible in your life. Dwell on the word, ask the Lord to reveal to you more of Him. Looking for books around a subject matter? Click on this link and scroll down to the bottom for a good list to start off on

http://www.woodlandpark.org/ministries/men/resources.asp

5) Read good books that will help you in areas you want to learn. 85% of Americans don't read a book a year. You can get good books at your local library or you can get a Kindle. It doesn't matter as long you are using it to be profitable for teaching for your life.

Paul, the apostle didn't always talk about biblical things. We know he was a tent maker and probably had some good discussions on the best way to make the tents, looked at different styles and had to find materials to make them so we know he was looking for ways to improve himself. Needless to say, Jesus had to have spent some serious time on woodworking with his dad to learn the trade. (That had to be very interesting- I mean think about it-----his dad is showing him how to do this and He really already knew) but Jesus probably had some pretty good wood working going on by the time He was 33.

6) Write letters to your leaders in politics and to Hollywood leaders about what you want to see on television. Let them know how you feel. They should appreciate some feedback from their declining ratings.

7) Pray for our nation. Pray for the Lord to forgive us for forsaking Him. Pray for wisdom.

8) Last but not least disciple other men that will in turn turn around and disciple other men. One step at a time. Proverbs 27:17 lived out. Make sure you are leaving a legacy on your life that will "ripple" thru others for years to come.

***New Radio Station flips the switch in Chattanooga and begins to compete in Newstalk. 95.3 The Pulse. Brewere Broadcasting is behind this venture. First day was extremely shaky. Afternoon drive time, they may have a nitch in offering local news, weather and traffic from 4pm on. We will see, but Friday was not impressive. New Sports Station starts in June taking Alive 105's spot and will be ESPN programming. Not sure what that means for 1370 AM.

http://chattanoogapulse.com/radio/



I saw this story in the print edition of the Wall Street Journal and was floored. I had not heard anything about this, have you?


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124104549891270585.html







The future of GM, Ford and Chrysler are right there in that article!



Don't Ask Don't Tell changed and the media didn't even tell you:



http://www.propublica.org/article/comments/whitehouse.gov-backs-down-on-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-501

Viva La Revolution!

Sorry to not have posted for awhile traveled recently and been catching up ever since with friends and family.

This week was something else. It is interesting how many things tied in together this week.

First you had the build of the tea parties across the country. Would people come out to those? I mean people are talking a good game but will they actually do something? (Almost sounds like the modern day church)

Next you had the new Janet Reno-Napolitano that Dennis Miller described as with a Frank Luntz hairstyle......garner some new verbage about right wing extremist. Boy, she spent too much time on the McVeigh case didn't she?

Then the Tea Parties came. I took in the Chattanooga one with a friend and it was well done. Good balanced tone, family focused and lots of kids. Clearly upset people about the nation's future. Their children's future and the debt being put on them by politicians on both sides of the fence in Washington. I have mentioned this before in my blogs that we have no real statesmen left. It is either one way or not at all. Such a bad way to lead and you know as well as I that if those in Congress will only get to act like children so long until it reaches out and touches you.

Here is the link for the local group that met. They will be scheduling something again soon.

http://chattanoogateaparty.com/

The media coverage was about what you thought. Wait. I sat there Thursday night and thought about how far the NBC brand has been tarnished by leaders that simply want to be second behind FOX News. They have done their programming just like Fox except the opposite way thinking that they could have as many viewers. It has placed them past CNN (that is a whole implosion itself) but in the course of that they have lost their brand image. MSNBC has struggled since it started and today they are not really reporting news anymore just a progressive stance on everything.
Keith Olberman who would like to take over the whole network and will be naming Bill O' Reilly worst person in the world 10 years from now and still be behind him in the ratings has lasted a pretty long time I think simply because MSNBC doesn't have another plan and heck, they have CNN's number now. Money is even more powerful for many men than truth forget the brand that we have worked on for all these years. Forget the wonderful work of Tim Russert. He's gone and that rock that kept them tied all together is gone. His attack of Bubba from the Rick and Bubba Show about having someone in B'ham's tea party saying something about Obama was sad. You could clearly tell the guy yelled something like Go Getem Bubba or as he said he said..Go tellem Bubba! But, Keith didn't check the facts, he simply went with it and showed that he is not a journalist and we shouldn't be surprised. I have know Olberman since his KTLA days and even talked with him as he was a brother in the fight to save the big satellite dishes when they went to pay content but that went down in flames. He hasn't changed much, just has a bigger podium. He is very smart but really never has impressed me as he has worked media and you know it ain't that hard.

CNN has its places of this like with Anderson Cooper and I can't figure out why he just doesn't come out and tell everyone he is a homosexual. His Tea Party reference this week was just a shade of his lifestyle and why he has not ever become what CNN had hoped. Maddow has done this with success at MSNBC and so has Ellen. The American people will accept the happy side of the homosexual ( also Will and Grace) but they don't understand the fallen side until it comes out (see Ellen's dog issue and Rosie O' Donnell) Please understand this goes with those that commit adultery as well. That is a whole nutter post.

Then throw in Susan Boyles performance of "I Dreamed a Dream," from Les Miz. That has more of tie into this week than we would think. Here is a story about her if you have been out of touch:



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/arts/television/18boyle.html

Anyway, this week there estimates of 300,000-500,000 people that went into the streets, many for the first time because what has happened in Washington is finally starting to reach out and touch people in a way they haven't seen. Plague upon both houses was the saying. These people were told in our group to get involved! in local government, county government and it goes without saying that these people work for us. It reminds me of a scene from It's a Bugs Life when they realized there are more of the ants that the grasshoppers. It was over then.
Well. this week, many people were asked to engage. We will see if they will in the next few months. the first test will be the next elections. The Free Choice Act right now offers you insight into what is happening. You would think that this would be pushed thru quickly but there are several smart Democrat politicians that don't have union prescence and know if they voted for this, then they will no longer be in power. There are not enough votes now and most definitely in the smarter stay here until I die Senate. So, the next election will be where this will come back up again. Sorry unions.....common sense is stronger than greed for power.
So back to this week. Well, it is now up to those at those Tea Parties to be more than grassroots and Susan Boyles and Les Miz. A great production. So as we bid farewell today, I leave you with a clip from Les Miz and you will see the connection I am talking about. It is a day whether you can step up and get involved or sit back and watch.
I believe the church had to be persecuted to get out of Jersulaem and today the modern church needs to get out of the pulpits and get involved in their government, their country and don't just say well that is wrong or sad and such and such.. Get out. Get involved, make a phone call to others and stand for freedom in this country. (Now, I am not acquainting violence as I know Nappy has said that right wing extremist are prone to do) I am talking about lets let people know how we feel and that we are paying for their jobs..... Enjoy the clip!







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrZ6NtPR2M&feature=related

Bill Hull speaks to leaders in Chattanooga

This past Thursday night a group of men's ministry leaders from all around Chattanooga gathered. (CACMM (Chattanooga Area Coaliton of Men's Ministry)

It was a great time to recconnect with brothers that I value greatly and appreciate their desire for men to "live up" and be passionate in their faith. I am thankful for Bernie Ritterbush of Men's Ministry Network and Doug Daugherty with the MacClellan Foundation for sponsoring this get together.

At my table was one man that I hadn't seen since an advance @ Rock Eagle about three years ago. It was good to see him and catch up.

The special treat of the night was a internet hookup with author Bill Hull. Dr. Hull has written some great books on discipleship and his latest work is Called Choose The Life. The illustration today is from the book. http://www.choosethelife.com/

I would like to share some "nuggets" he shared with us.

First, will them that call themselves Christians, call themselves Disciples?

Ask yourself, what are we creating? What kind of influence are we having?

You can become a Christian without becoming a disciple.

Discipleship is optional. Churches are more concerned with doctrinal issues today.

You can't hide a genuine faith. It permeates your whole life.

Bill talked about how busy everyone is today. AMEN. Staying in touch with all kinds of technology but knowing each other less. (Same theme as Session I of Quest for Authenic Manhood) He quoted John Wesley who traveled many miles on horseback.

"I am always busy, but never in a hurry," said Wesley.

Discipleship is life touching life. Dallas Willard says that it is good overcoming evil.

He points out that that the church and the world's cultures are getting so close that one will swallow the other.

This one comment was big. I mean this applies to all of us.

"Unless you have the basis for truth from a relationship then that relationship can't move ahead."

I see that alot not just in the church but in ALL relationships. It holds so many leaders back too.

He spoke one moment from a question from the audience about small groups and hit the major points again. 1) the problem with many small groups is that there is no accountability 2) They are not managed well 3) Is anyone in the small groups being stretched? challenged? {They should be} 4) Group leaders need to be trained to address these areas.

Men's leaders in the Chattanooga area are invited to attend the next meeting on , Thursday, May 21st at Tyner United Methodist Church. Pat Morley , with Man in the Mirror will be the special guest by internet from Florida to speak and answer questions from the group. Dinner is served. Registrations are accepted at

cacmm1@gmail.com

This article caught my eye from the NY Times Saturday issue's "On Religion," column

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/us/21religion.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=on%20religion&st=cse

Also, I would say that this article with Ann Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox is one of the best interviews of a leader I have read in a newspaper. Usually this kind of detail is in a book. Some of her answers are so dead on.....if you are a leader you need to read this interview all the way thru especially what she learned going into page 2 while working in Human Resources. Dead on!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22corner.html?scp=3&sq=xerox&st=cse

Hope your brackets are holding up. Mine are still in really good shape...believe it or not. (Well, Marquette hurt today.)

God Bless.

Hank