Interesting Conversation

Had an interesting conversation with my friend Alex Monday night at Starbucks. We were talking about fears - Alex gave me a great book by pastor and author Bill Perkins called Six Battles Every Man Must Win. In it Perkins addresses the issue of fear (I will write more about this later). We were talking about the different kinds of fears men struggle with. Many of which you and I already can identify with.

I began sharing the process of becoming the men God designed and desired us to be with Alex. I found it interesting that Alex commented that men will not attempt the process for fear. Fear of. . .? Fear of failure. He shared with me that because men fear failure so much they will not begin the process. They are afraid they will mess up in the process.
I never made the connection before. But I think Alex may be right. We men won’t even attempt to become the men God designed and desires us to be because we are so afraid of falling in the process.

Then. . .then I’m reminded that the Bible records the failings great men of God.

• David fell when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then committed murder when he had one of his most loyal warriors sent to the greatest battle knowing Uriah’s chances of being killed in battle were the highest. And yes, Uriah was killed faithfully serving his king.
• Abraham convinced Sarah to lie about being his wife when they went to Egypt.
• Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it as God instructed.
• Peter openly and publicly denied Christ.
• Elijah ran for his life after he witnessed God send down fire from heaven to consume not only an offering but the entire altar before the people of Israel.

I used to have a boss who said that he didn’t mind me messing up because it showed I was trying. Guys, we mess up. To be honest, we’re going to mess up. We’re guys! That’s what we do. So why not mess up trying to be the man God and your wife want you to be. Life will go on. Believe me when I tell you it will go a long way with both.
Mike