As far as the church (our churches) goes here’s what I wrote.

But I was drawn Jesus’ words, “You have forsaken your first love.” The more I thought about those words the more I thought about the church’s relationship to Jesus.  He is their groom and the church is his bride.  In essence He was saying that his bride had lost their love for their husband. . .their spouse.

As I mulled these words around in my mind this morning I couldn’t help to wonder about my own marriage.  I remember when we got married – the excitement, the wonderment, the awe, the amazement that God would bless me with such a gift.  Then I began thinking, after only a year and three months, would Cindy know if I had stopped loving her like I did when we first got married?  Would she be able to tell if I was just going through the motions?  Am I more madly in love with her today than I was the day we joined our lives together?  I wrestled with these questions.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. I am more madly in love with her today that I was the day we were married!
2. I never want to get to a place where I ‘m just going through the motions – I want to do what I do because I love her. . .AND I want her to know it!
3. I never, ever want her to wonder if I’m just going through the motions – doing the right things without the right reasons.
4. If she ever thinks I am, I want her to call me on it.
5. If I find myself going through the motions, I want to be man enough to admit it, repent of it, and begin falling back in love with her.

What about your relationship with your wife?  You just going through the motions in your relationship with her?  If not, keep it up!! Our world needs more men like you.  You can help by encouraging and teaching others what you’ve learned about keeping the love fires hot.   If you are just going through the motions, Jesus said there was a solution.  I think it’s risky,  but it’s His remedy not mine.  He says we need to admit we’ve forsaken our first love; first to yourself, second to God, and third to your wife.  This takes guts.  It takes courage.  It takes a willingness to do things right and be obedient to God – love God and love others, most especially your wife.  Then Jesus tells us to repent, or turn from just the motions and turn back to your wife.  This may mean getting rid of anything and everything that attracts and distracts your love away from your wife.  Finally, Jesus said we shoudl get back to doing those things that you did when you first started falling in love with her.

Like I said, this could be risky, but it’s the right thing to do.  Just remember, just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing.  Guys, it’s up to us to take the lead in our families.  It’s up to you to make things right.

Mike

Here’s the cool thing that I piqued my interest – they would meet and have church.  That’s right, in the pursuit of their passion or interest they would have worship, Bible study, pray for one another, and share the gospel – all the things that we do in “church.”

Then it hit me!  How many guys do I know who have definitive interests – fishing, hunting, cycling, motorcycles, lifting weights, running, technology, finances, their jobs, and a bajillion more I just don’t have time to jot down, that could use those gifts, passions, and interests to reach out to other guys?

I remember when I lived in Lufkin, Texas I rode with the Angelina Bike Club.  We met every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to ride mile after mile together.  Some went to my church, some attended other churches, some didn’t go to church at all.  But cycling was my bridge to this group.  It was what I lived for.  I prayed for them.  I encouraged them.  They encouraged me.  And I got the chance to minister to those guys.

When I moved to Saraland, AL I bought my first Harley.  Man! Did I have a blast using that bike that reach out to people. . .to guys in the same way.  Tom Briand and I went on many a ride on our Harleys.  We prayed together.  We encouraged each other and on several occasions we were able to encourage other guys.

What about you, men?  What’s your passion or interest?  And how can you use it to reach out to the men in your circle of influence?  What if you said something like, “God, I love doing/participating in ________________, I give it to you to reach men who share the same passion.“  Then, you begin open your eyes to who God leads you to.  You may have to join a club or organization.  Maybe not.  You may have to hang out with some guys you normally wouldn’t.  But aren’t those the guys we want to reach anyway?!

If we are going to change our families and communities we are going to have to change the hearts of men.  And that takes men willing to take a risk.  Men who will use their interests, hobbies, and passions to reach out to guys from all walks of life. It will take men who are willing to be bold.  Men who are willing to step out on faith and trust God.

Take the challenge!

Mike

Somewhere in my spiritual journey I became tame. Somewhere in time I bought in to and accepted the notion, that I needed to know where the light switches were in the tunnel. I needed to know the whys, hows, and wheres of my journey with God. I came to believe that I needed to, and had the right to know the destination. . .ultimately I became tame, timid, and tired. I began to evaluate and study life. I had to figure life out.  And in the process I settled down and became a “responsible” Christian. At some point in my journey I started to ask the “Why?” question. Why would we want do that? Why would you want to change this? Why do we need to do it differently?

Even though I accepted this as normal, there was always a yearning. . .a sense deep within me that knew this wasn’t right. This morning God showed me that I had stopped dreaming big dreams and stopped asking “Why not?” He showed me men, who over the years, have asked the “Why not?” question.   Men who have influenced me in the past and continue to influence me, even now. Guys like Steve, Ed, Stacey, and Gene. Guys who don’t let the “Why?’s” tie them to the leash of life. These are men who I have heard with my own ears ask, “Why not?” These guys are an inspiration to me and serve as a reminder that we are not to live the caged life, but to live the wild, adventurous life of following God. Every morning we are to hit the floor willing to live the life focused on the pursuit of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; the life that knows no boundaries; the life lived with wild anticipation that God will do something extraordinary with me and those who are willing to ask “Why not?”

This morning I committed to God to stop worrying about the how and focus on the what. I apologized for not fighting for Him, for Cindy, and for a few good men. I sought His forgiveness for allowing this world, the church, and my own fears to turn me into a complacent, life-numbing, man whose focused had become  “Why?”

What about you? Men, God has called us to be adventurous. He’s put that part of himself within us. He destined us to become leaders and warriors, men who are willing to fight for their King, their Eve, and the hearts and lives of a couple of other fellow warriors. Don’t become what I had become. Don’t become the “Why?” guy. If you find yourself in that place, confess it to God and ask Him to prepare you for the journey. You may have to unload some gear. You may have to set down some comforts. You will have to leave the why’s and where’s behind. You will have to let go of some baggage like pride, selfishness, anger, sarcasm, doubt, and worry. You will have to lace up your boots, grab a knife, sword, or spear, and head out into unknown territory.   You will have to trust God – that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.  You will have to stop asking the “Why?” question and will have to start asking the “Why not?” question.

Won’t you join me in the tunnel?

Mike

I was recently speaking with a friend of mine about girl-guy relationships. This is a guy that has grown more in his relationship with God over the last year or so, than since becoming a Christ-follower. He’s a great guy – a hard worker, smart, and rides a motorcycle.
We had been talking about purity and how God calls us to remain pure in our girl-guy relationships until the time He unites us in marriage. He struggled with this for a while – like most guys do. As we walked through God’s standard for us as single men and how it is up to us to guard that standard as the spiritual leaders in our relationships he equated his desire for sex to “Snickers Bars.” We laughed, but what a great analogy! It was his way of talking about sex in terms he could understand since he likes Snickers Bars as well.

As I thought about his struggle and his analogy, I realized many of us have our own “Snickers Bars.” Don’t we? It may not be the overwhelming desire to be sexually active in our girl-guy relationships, but it could be our pride, our desire for more toys, pornography, the demanding desire to be in charge/control, our attitudes that we cling to, or our expectations of others. . .you get the picture.

What’s your “Snickers Bar?”

I’m so proud of my friend. He came to me one night and told me how he went to his friend’s house and told her, “No more.” He walked away from his “Snickers Bar.” I’m not sure if their still friends, but I know God loved to see him walk away. He enjoyed watching my friend set the example, not matter how tough it was for him. I know it wasn’t an easy decision for him to make. The decision to put down our “Snickers Bar” is never easy. But I do know he wanted to please God and be obedient. For my friend it meant finding an alternative way of spending his time and a substitute for “Snickers Bar.” If you and I want to please God, as well, we will have to do the same. My buddy did it and I believe with all my heart that God is looking at my friend with an incredibly huge smile and a special place in his heart for him. And God has blessed him with more jobs to do in his side business.

My friend fought for his King and the King’s standard of purity in girl-guy relationships. What a warrior!

What about you? You ready to put down your “Snickers Bar” and follow God? Willing to walk away and walk to God? Are you willing to fight for the heart of your King?

I won’t be easy, but God assures us that He will grant us the grace to see us through. He will be there all the way. Won’t you make the commitment today. . .now?

Mike

Dungy said that coaching or winning a Super Bowl was not his main purpose in life.  He stated that glorifying the Father was his main purpose.  How profound.  Here’s a guy that is constantly working to be better. He’s won the biggest football game on the biggest stage and stated, while that is the pinnacle of coaching, it’s not the pinnacle of his life.

Tony reminds us, men, that our jobs, that promotion or raise, that championship, the bigger house or better car are not to become the main things in our lives.  The main thing is not even our children or our wives.  Nope!  It’s none of those things.  It’s to glorify God.  None of those things, in and of themselves are bad.  But they are not to be the main thing in our lives.  The main this is to raise God up in our jobs, in our relationships, in our homes, and in our circumstances.

So what’s your main thing?

I have to admit, it’s a challenge.  It can be done.  I know guys who do it.  But, even they didn’t learn to do overnight.  You won’t either.  So start small.  Change your attitude at work – see your place of employment as a mission field rather than a mine field.  Start praying with and for your children.  Do the same with your wife or girlfriend.  Get involved with a small group of guys that will hold you accountable for your actions, words, thoughts, emotions, etc.

It takes guts and we have to let go of our pride, but we can do it!  Let’s accept Coach Dungy’s challenge and begin making glorifying God the main thing in our lives.

M ike

I was lead to this question by God during consecutive quiet times just before the new year. Allow me to explain. After Christmas I asked God what He wanted from me this year. Yeah, I know the easy answer – “Your heart!” or “Your life.” or several Sunday School answers. And these wouldn’t be wrong. But that wasn’t what I was looking for, nor was it what God wanted me to discover – at least I don’t think it was.

Instead God lead me to John 6:1-13. It’s a very familiar passage to many of us. Reading it we find that it’s where Jesus feeds the 5,000 (considering all that was recorded were men, estimates are upwards to around 10,000 people). Through this passage there’s a couple of unique lessons God wanted me to learn and I want to share with you as 2008 gets kicked off.

Trust God to provide for you

As we begin reading we are allowed to listen in on Jesus’ conversation with Philip: Hey Phil, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” But we’re also privy to the thoughts of Jesus – He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. You see, God didn’t expect Phil to provide for the people. As a matter of fact Jesus asked him a where question, because Jesus already knew the how. Jesus was simply testing Phil, just like He tests you and me.

Philip’s answer was about the means. . .the how. He responded to Jesus’ question, “No matter how much money we have, it won’t be enough to buy what we need.” Of course looking back we think, what was Phil thinking? This is Jesus. He could do whatever he wanted to! Yet, we often respond like Philip. Ever responded to God like Him, He asks something of you and the first thing you mention is how you can’t do it? He asks you to trust Him and the first thing you do is tell Him how you can’t do something for God.

When we trust God to provide whatever it is we need – peace, love, direction, fellowship, companionship, finances, solutions, etc. – we have to leave the how up to Him. Why? Because He already knows how he will provide. He’s just waiting for you and me to trust Him. Don’t fall into the “How” trap. That is a trap of faithlessness.

Surrender your stuff to God

I’m cleaning out closets and getting rid of a lot of stuff. See, I’m a pack rat. I hate throwing stuff away. Why? You guessed it, I might need it later. Right? You know what I mean?

Listen, God started this process in my heart last year and it’s a lesson I’m still learning – stuff is just stuff. It doesn’t do any good to hold on to it. If you’re thinking its about memories or value or whatever, let me assure you I have plenty of reasons to hang onto stuff. But God has reminded me it’s just stuff. The memories are in my heart and in my mind. They will never go away. And the value – Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-21 that our hearts shouldn’t be set on the stuff of earth, especially things with monetary value. What if they all burned up in a fire? What would I do then? Where’s the value?

Instead, give your stuff over to God. Remember, though, stuff doesn’t just mean our physical goods. It means our abilities, our passions, our giftedness, our fears, our situations, our relationships. I told God I would turn my teaching abilities, my limited writing experience, my desire to read and study His Word, my ministries, my relationships, my marriage, my fears, my anxieties, my emotions (especially my anger and temper), my feelings all over to Him. Yeah, there’s some big things in there, but there’s also some things that I would consider little things or maybe not as consequential as others. That’s what God is waiting for you know?

Reading the passage in John we find a little boy gave up his 5 biscuits and 2 sardines. This was probably all he had. Barley loaves and fish were the food of the poor, so this wasn’t donated out of extravagance. It wasn’t like the boy said, “Here, take this, I’ve got plenty!” No, it was probably all he had. I wonder, was he the only person in the entire crowd that had food? If he wasn’t, then why didn’t others give up their meals? Probably for the same reason we don’t: It’s all I’ve got! If I give it I’ll have nothing. Yet a child said here, take it.
It’s like that with our stuff. God is wanting what you have. No guarantees. The boy had no guarantee that he would get any of the food back. But it didn’t stop him from giving it up.

Thank God for everything, even the small stuff

When Jesus received the biscuits and fish the first thing He did (after having the people sit down) was to thank God for it. It was all there was, nothing more. Just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Yet, Christ raised it up and thanked God for what He had provided. Jesus didn’t question God. He didn’t complain about what He didn’t have. He thanked God for the little bit they did have.

I have to say, this is the most difficult lesson for me to accept. I struggle with the stuff I don’t have. I complain, whine, cry, and plead with God for the stuff I don’t have – like enough money to pay bills, rather than thank Him for the house I have, the fact that I haven’t been late paying any of our bills, for a wonderfully supportive wife, clothes to wear, food to eat, opportunity to trust Him and grow in my faith, a loving family, I could go on, but there’s no need.

What about you? Do you complain to God for what you don’t have or thank God for what you do have – no matter how small or insignificant it appears to be?

Expect God to do the impossible in and through you -

When Jesus distributed the bread I think He knew that everyone there would eat well. John tells us that when they had enough to eat – i.e., when everyone was full – they gathered 12 baskets of leftovers. Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing? Watch Jesus lift up a handful of food and then watch everyone eat until they’re satisfied? OH MAN!!

Getting back to that little boy – I wonder if 5 biscuits and 2 sardines would have filled him up? Don’t know. But I do know he at to his heart’s content. I also wonder what he thought has he saw his “little” donation go farther and farther and farther and. . .?

Do you expect God to do the impossible in and through you? Do your pray believing? Do you surrender and trust believing? Jesus reminded us “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Do you want God to do the impossible in and through you? I tend to think there’s a lot of us who want the comfort and security we have now rather than risking letting go of it so we can He can bless us with an armful.

I’m expecting God to do something powerful in and through me this year. There’s a lot I could accomplish and do in my power, but I learning to want and desire the impossibilities of God. I hope you will, too.

Mike

I have to be quite honest here, I hate to wait. I never went to Six Flags with Karen because I think it’s ridiculous to pay that much money to wait in line and sweat I’m the kind of guy who, when he gets an idea wants to go for it. . .let’s get it done. . .let’s make it happen! That’s how, in some way, I saw my role as an associate pastor – I’m the guy who makes it happen. I love making things happen. I cherish the thought of being the go to guy when something needs to get done.

But God has other ideas of what I should do right now. Instead of taking the lead and getting the ministry up and running, God is saying “wait.” Now I know that waiting on God is not a bad thing. In fact there are several passages of Scripture that encourage us to wait on God. They remind us that there are benefits in waiting on God.

• Genesis tells of us Abraham’s waiting 25 years for a son God promised him. Abraham was 75 when God made that promise
• David wandered around a bunch of caves and waited for about 10 years for God to place him on the throne of Israel
• The people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years waiting for the promise land (yes, their wandering was due to their sin, but they still had to wait)
• There are also words of encouragement and blessing for those who wait

• Isaiah 30:18
• Psalm 27:14
• Psalm 33:20
• Psalm 40:1
• Isaiah 64:4

Yes, God’s Word is full of benefits and encouragement to wait upon the Lord. And, yes, I don’t like to wait. But, if I want what’s best for me, then I will wait. Ancy, yes, but, again, I will wait. I could move forward, but it would be in my power, my timing, and my idea of how things should be done. The best thing for me to do is to focus on God, His promises, His faithfulness, and His will. I also need to confess and submit any anxiety I feel in waiting on the Lord. Then I will rest in the assurance that His timing is never early and definitely never late.

I don’t like to wait because I’m impatient and I like to be in control. So why don’t you like to wait? Is it control? Is it a “get er done!” attitude? Is it patience? Is it something else. It takes a lot of guts to deny your own desires and nature and wait on someone else. I’m trying and would appreciate your prayers. Do you have the guts?

Waiting and Wondering,

Mike

And He (Jesus) said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”  – Mark 6:31 (NKJ)

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. – Psalms 62:1 (NIV).

Rest. . .quiet. . .silence. . .away. . .salvation. These words are rarely used in today’s hustle and bustle world.  As a matter of fact it’s quite the opposite.  We load ourselves down with stuff to do only to complain that we have to no time – time to rest, time for family, time for fun, or time to spend with God.  We even hurry to wait.  Our lives overflow with rush.  It’s difficult for us to fathom slowing down. . . to have moments of quiet. . .of stillness.  We always seem to have another meeting to attend, another game to go to, another appointment to fulfill.  I could go on, but I don’t have to, you know what I’m talking about.

I think it’s difficult for me because when I am still for a moment I feel guilty.  The thought usually occurs to me, “shouldn’t I be doing something?”  Why do I feel like that?  Is it because I’ve bought into and adopted the art of hurry?  Is it due to the fact that for some strange reason, as a man, I have come to believe that if I’m not hurried I’m not being productive?  Is it because I’m so wound up I don’t think I can relax?  Is being busy the same as hurried?  I wonder.

Ortberg states that business and hurriedness are not the same.  He points to Jesus who was often busy, but never hurried.  As I think back on Jesus’ ministry he never ran anywhere, and yet He was never late to anything.  He took time to be with people.  He partied with folks.  He hung out with the apostles.  He enjoyed life!  He was busy healing, teaching, and helping, but He never was rushed.

Why is this so critical to our lives?  Men, it’s important because we become so hurried and rushed in our everyday lives that we become distracted.  We stop making time to sit with God.  When we do we want the “fast food” version of it, “Just give me what I need so I can get on with life.”  That’s not what God had in mind.  Even Jesus recognized the need to get away to a deserted place for times of refreshing and victory and redemption and hanging with the Father.

Men, I want to encourage you to look at your schedules.  Are they filled with stuff?  Is there a place or time on your calendar where you and God just get away in silence, away from the demands of life, the appointments, and the projects so you can find rest in Him?  If not, make time.  Ask God to show you where and how to make time.  Schedule a morning or an evening after the kids have gone to bed to read God’s Word and to listen for that small still voice.  Invite Him to restore and refresh you.  Take your worries and cares of the day to Him so He can help you and take that load off of you.

To make this happen takes boldness.  Do you have the boldness to say no to hurry and yes to God?

Need some rest, silence, peace, and quiet?  Only you can make that happen.

Needing to slow down myself,

Mike

You know what I mean, for some it’s alcohol, or drugs, or gossiping, or pornography, or lust, or adultery, or over spending & credit card issues. Some of you may be struggling with exaggeration – your story always seems to become more grandiose when you tell it, or your attitude sucks and it’s a constant battle not to allow it to control you. Whatever it is, it’s a battle. And if you’re like me you feel the battle constantly raging inside of you.

I just want to encourage you in the midst of your battle. First, even guys like Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, struggled. Listen to his words found in the seventh chapter of Romans,

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (v. 14-25)

Do you get a sense that Paul knows exactly what it feels like to struggle in your walk with the Lord? I do. I also know that in the midst of his struggle he found a marvelous nugget of truth that we all could remember – “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” That’s right. Paul knew it and now you know it. Your answer lies in your relationship with Christ.

In Chapter 8 Paul tells us that in Christ we are set free from being slaves to our sinful nature. Did you get this? It’s incredible! If you have Christ as Lord of your life, you have been set free to live in the Spirit of God and not in the spirit of your sinful nature. You are no longer a salve to you sinful nature – to your struggle, but a free man in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus said that if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36). So you are no longer slaves, but free men. Free to live in the power and the Spirit of God, the one who set you free!

Second, you don’t have to let that struggle defeat you. I have to admit that I lose to my struggle at times. My struggle, you ask? Lust and pornography. I flirted with pornography while I was living the life of an ungodly man. Let me tell you something, that stuff stays with you for years. It’s one battle that will not let go. Just when I think I’ve got it conquered, something happens and the temptations come at me like a tsunami. So I struggle and battle and sometimes scratch and claw my way through the enemy. I don’t always win as anyone with a life-struggle knows.
But I do know this – God is in control and He has given me the Spirit of love, of power, and self discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). I don’t have to let my struggles rule over me. They don’t have to have control and conquer me. Everyday I wake up I know that God is in control and the power He gave Jesus is also mine to overcome, to win, to be a victor. And through my faith in Jesus I can overcome. I can live a life of victory. (1 John 5:4-5)

Each morning when our feet hit the floor we should be giving our battle to the Lord. Asking Him to fill us with His Spirit, His power, His love, His desire for us to be more than conquerors. We need to stop being prepared for the battle and suit up the first thing every morning. The very morning you forget to prepare will be the morning the enemy will win.

So go live the victorious life. Don’t give in to your struggles. I know the battle can be tough, but you don’t fight alone.

Your comrade in arms,

Mike

What I am talking about is being accused of turning your workplace upside down, of changing your neighborhood, of being accused of “causing trouble” for the cause of Christ.

That’s what Paul, Silas, and their host, Jason, were accused of in Thessalonica.   In Acts 17:1-9 we find Paul and Silas preaching the gospel (v 1-3).  We’re told that some of the Jews, a large number of God-fearing Greeks, and not a few prominent women accepted the gospel (v 4).  Then there were some Jews – probably some of the religious leaders – be didn’t like what was going on.  In fact, we’re told they were jealous (v 5).  So they rounded up a bunch of Guidos and wen in search of Paul and Silas.  When they got to Jason’s house and realized that Paul and Silas weren’t there they dragged their host, Jason into the street and before some of the city leaders and this is what they had to say about Paul, Silas, Jason, and whoever was associated with them

These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (v 6)

Paul, Silas, and Jason were rockin’ their world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They boldly fought for the heart of their King.  They took a stand when no one else would.

Believe it or not, that’s part of being a man God desires – a man who will fight for the heart of their King.  They fought, and in doing so, were accused of turning their world upside down.

Let’s fight.  Let’s stand for the heart of our King – the same King Paul and Silas and countless others have stood for throughout the ages.  Let’s rock our families for Jesus.  Let’s stand firm for our Savior in our neighborhoods.  Let’s fight for the cause of Jesus Christ in our work places.

Let’s be accused of turning our worlds upside down.

Mike