BE SALT

We are finally on our last meeting! I hope to see all of you there tomorrow morning. Come and be a part even if you haven't been in a while.

 

Reminder we are doing a Resolution Signing Ceremony Sunday May 6th after church. Bring your family take a stand before your family and God that you will strive to be a Man of Resolution. Here is a link to what The Resolution is, There will be food for all and games for the kids. We will provide the Resolutions to sign. I just need to know how many will be there. We have 15 men and their families (75 people) signed up to be there. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

 

Remember: Matt 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth." Salt does 3 things 1. Preserves 2. Gives flavor 3. Makes you thirsty. If we are to truly be salt we must 1. preserve those(believers) around us 2. Give flavor(Jesus) to the lost 3. Make those(lost and believers) around us thirst for Jesus.

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked with integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” Psalm 26:1-3

Resolution Point #10 I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

Sin is missing the mark, sin dissapoints God, sin is the rejection of God in our hearts. But repentance is transformational. Do you repent like King Saul only confessing what is found out, being angry toward those who confront you. Or do you repent like King David being a broken man before God.

Courageous Challenge: Write out a list of the top five sins that keep entangling you in your life, and begin praying for God to give you the grace to fully repent of each one.

Memory Verse: “Repent and return, so that your sins might be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

*********IMPORTANT NEWS*********

Sunday May 6th we are going to have a Resolution Signing Ceremony. After Church that day we will meet at the Fieldhouse WITH your families (providing good weather outside). We will have a cookout, after the cook out we have the Ceremony (Look Sharp). I will speak (less than 5 minutes) on what we have been doing. Then we will read through the Resolution and I will have nice ones for everyone to sign and hopefully you can get it framed and hang it in your home. Afterwards you are welcome to hang out and fellowship as long as you want to.

Who can take part in this: 1. if you have been to the meetings a "few weeks", 2. Read the book. 3. Watched the movie to understand what the ceremony is.

Here is what I need from you: Who is going to be there? How many will be with you? Food/drink/desert requests or what will you bring?

I want this to be a fun event, I just need your help.

Here are some videos to watch about the Resolution:
 http://youtu.be/Cnb_WQ2v5Gw
 http://youtu.be/0jLGAsPb_ik  watch from 1:20 on to see about the Resolution.
 http://youtu.be/0jvaQ5gRi0w
 http://youtu.be/1CRchn9YeyE this is the scene from the movie.

1995 Promise Keepers

I recently was watching videos from Men at the Cross. It is a great ministry linking Men together "a Paul to a Timothy", teaching mentorship. Dr Tony Evans was a speaker at a past Men at the Cross Conference and I watched a video of him from a 1995 Promise Keepers Conference. Wow what a message click here to see it, it is 4 parts.

At first I was surprised...nearly 20 years ago Men were being called out to be the Men of God we are supposed to be. To be the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. 20 years ago I was in high school clueless of what God expects of a Man. My parents were divorced and no Man in my life helped me to realize what God expects of Men. So I wandered the life clueless until one morning I "woke up" realized I'm married with 2 kids I better figure out what God want of me and do it NOW! By far what has helped me the most realizing what God wants and how to do what God want was a Men's Fraternity group at church. Strong Men of God challenging me to wake up, step up, and do what God expects of a Man.

I hope in 20 years there is a young man, or men, I have came along side, like Paul to Timothy, and showed him what God wants and expects of us. The challenge is for all of us to do this. Lock shields with men around you and challenge each other. Find a young man around you and help him, train him, show him what God wants from a Man.

I am fired up tonight to continue down the path God has set for me. Lock shields with me and bring others along as we go to battle dailey as soldiers for Christ. I want to be a better man, a better husband, and a better father. I hope you do to. You never arrive, you just keep getting closer to Glory.

Continue down the path of Authentic Manhood with me:

Reject Passivity

Lead Courageously

Accept Responsibility

Invest Eternally

Week #10 Courageous Challenge: Write a letter of appreciation to your father or pastor. 

Week #10 Memory Verse: “As those who have been chosen by God, holy, and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

Week #9 Resolve to Fight for Justice.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Resolution Point #6: I will WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

What does it mean "to act justly", "to love mercy", and "to walk humbly with our God"?

There have been great examples in the past of MEN who would not stand for injustice. What kind of footprint are you leaving for your kids? Do they see you ignoring things that need to be confronted?

There are great biblical examples of men taking hard stands for righteousness. From Nathan to Nehemiah to John the Baptist to Jesus. Specifically Nathan confronting King David of his adulteress affair.

There are good men in church who are passive because they say to be Christlike is to be "nice and quiet". Jesus called people out on their sin, rose his voice in anger. We have great examples all throughout the Bible of Great Godly Men who stood up to the popular world and held to the truths of our awesome God.

Will you be a bold witness for the goodness of God? Will you  act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?

Courageous Challenge: Contact your local police dept or youth detention center and ask them what the biggest concerns are in your city. Then pray for God to raise up strong men to help confront those specific issues.

Memory Verse: ““He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Here is the series I am looks at doing this fall: 33 the Series

Here is a trailer for the series: 33 Trailer

Week #8 Resolve to live with Honor

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth......Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12: 1,13

Resolution Point #5: I will train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

Do you have a healthy fear of the Lord. I think of it this way, my 3 year old has a fear of a "bustin". He can bend any limb to get in the way of a spanking, but the point of it is he has a fear of discipline from his earthly father. Too many times I have let my pride swell and had a lack of fear that I need of my Heavenly Father. Remember that pride always comes before a fall.


Do we teach our kids to honor authority? What do our kids hear us say about our bosses, preachers, politicians? Whether you disagree with politicians or not we are called to pray for our leaders to lead in a Godly way. It doesn't help to pray devastation over them. Pray that God will give them the wisdom to be a Godly leader.

Are you disciplined enough to give you kids the discipline they need? Give them loving Godly discipline.

Raise children of honor, train them to live responsibly.

Courageous Challenge: Ask your children if you have hurt them in any way in the past and never made it right. If so, apologize.

Memory Verse: The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear Gos and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every at to judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it it good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Iron Sharpens Iron is this Saturday at FBCBA. Click here to check it out.  

Here is a cool site I found last night tying the movie Act of Valor to Jesus.

Coming soon is a Men's retreat at Falls: Rewired

Bring someone with you next week. God is moving in the Men of Coweta.

Week #7 Resolve to Bless your Children

“May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you.” Gen 28:3-4

Resolution Point #4: I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

How do we instill God's word in our kids lives?

1. God's word must be on our heart. Are you in the word daily? Do you walk with Him?

2. Training your kids must take place in the context of a close relationship. Do you have a relationship with them?

When should you teach the word to your kids?

 Deuteronomy 6:6-7 "These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. "

We are to be about the Father's business teaching our kids ALL the time. We do this by our words and more importantly by our actions.

The Three most powerful things you can give your kids are: Attention, Affirmation, and Affection

Make them feel valued with you time, tell them they are important and special, and tell them you LOVE them. Remember God wants to spend time with us, we are important to Him, and He gave His only Son for us. That is how much He loves us.

Courageous Challenge: Talk with your kids this week and “bless” them by telling them how much you love them and are proud of them.

Memory Verse: “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways” Proverbs 23:26

 

Be ready to go to battle for your kids!!!

 

Lead from the front!!

Week #6 Resolve to Love Your Wife

Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge"

Resolution Point #3 I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Christ did for me?

Do you treat our wife as HOLY? Is your marriage viewed as priceless? Do you love your wife unconditionally?

What safety measures have you put in place to guard your marriage? Your wife doesn't need to keep you accountable, find another MAN of God. Who keeps you accountable, who asks you the difficult questions? Are you being totally honest with what you view on the Internet?

Courageous Challenge for week #6: Set up one or more protective boundaries in your life this week to help you guard you heart and your marriage.

Memory Verse: Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge"

We have 9 weeks left in the study. Once we are finished with the study I want to have a resolution signing ceremony. Where we as Men of Resolution say before God and our Family that the world's manhood is not acceptable for me, I will be held to a higher standard. If you have 1) read the book, 2) Watch the movie Courageous, and 3) been to at least 3 weeks of the morning meetings; then come and stand with us as Men who want to be set apart to Authentic Manhood and sign the Resolution with your family at our Resolution Signing Ceremony.

Can you step up to the challenge?

Lead your heart, don't follow it. Lead your family. Lead from the front showing the way.